Bladder and bowel symptoms are known to reduce quality of life and are rated a severe life problem in persons with SCI. This study was undertaken to identify women’s experiences living with spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder and bowel.
Women’s experiences of living with neurogenic bladder and bowel after spinal cord injury: Life controlled by bladder and bowel.
Nevedal A, Kratz A, Tate D.
Disabil Rehabil. 2016;38:573-81.
In this qualitative study, 50 women from two rehabilitation facilities were interviewed about their perception of living with SCI. In a secondary analysis, bladder and bowel related content from these deep interviews was investigated. From this analysis, six meta-themes emerged:
- Life controlled by bladder and bowel
- Bladder and bowel accidents
- Women’s specific challenges
- Life course disruption
- Bladder and bowel medical management
- Finding independence
The authors conclude that even after living with SCI for an average of 11 years, these women’s lives were still controlled and disrupted by neurogenic bladder and bowel problems.
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