Quality of life in children with pseudoincontinence after implementing a bowel management program in Egypt

Abstract

Aim of the studyThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing a Bowel Management Program (BMP) on the quality of life (QOL) in children with pseudoincontinence. MethodChildren aged 2.5–13 years with pseudoincontinence were included. Evaluations were performed before and after BMP implementation. Perceptions from parents about QOL were assessed by a QOL questionnaire, and the severity of fecal incontinence (FI) was assessed using the fecal incontinence index (FII) of the Wexner scale. Results115 children (mean age of 7.54 ± 2.48) were studied over a 3–12 month period (mean duration 4.36 months). QOL improved from 2.45 ± 1.57 to 14.36 ± 1.37, P˂0.05. There was a significant improvement of the FII: 18.65 ± 1.25 versus 0.13 ± 0.39, P˂ 0.05. There was a significant inverse correlation between the final scores of QOL (14.36 ± 1.37) and FII (0.13 ± 0.39) after implementation of the BMP (r = −0.53; P ˂ 0.05). ConclusionThis is the largest case series examining QOL in pseudoincontinent children. It demonstrates that BMP significantly improves the QOL of these children in the short and midterm. In addition, it is feasible to apply the FII in assessing incontinence in children. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind in our region. Level of evidenceLevel IV.