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Multicenter Study
. 2021 Jun;66(6):2024-2031.
doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06418-9. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Clinician Administered and Self-Report Survey Both Effective for Identifying Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Lesley Dibley  1   2 , Ailsa Hart  3 , Julie Duncan  4   5 , Charles H Knowles  6 , Sally Kerry  7 , Doris Lanz  7 , Vichithranie W Madurasinghe  7   8 , Tiffany Wade  9 , Helen Terry  10 , Azmina Verjee  11 , Mandy Fader  12 , Christine Norton  9
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Clinician Administered and Self-Report Survey Both Effective for Identifying Fecal Incontinence in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Lesley Dibley et al. Dig Dis Sci. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To test two methods for reporting of fecal incontinence (FI) in people with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: Consecutive patients from IBD clinics in six UK hospitals completed a short three-item case-finding survey about FI; they either completed the survey themselves or were asked the same questions face to face by a clinician.

Results: Of 1336 eligible patients with complete data (48% male; mean 43 years; 55% Crohn's disease, 41% ulcerative colitis), 772 were asked about FI face to face, and 564 self-completed the survey: FI was reported in 63% and 56%, respectively (p = 0.012). In regression analyses, those aged 51-60, having Crohn's disease and higher disease activity, were more likely to report FI. Of all respondents, 38.7% were interested in receiving help for their incontinence.

Conclusions: Fecal incontinence affects the majority of people with IBD. Although more patients reported fecal incontinence when asked face to face than self-reported, routine screening by either method in clinical practice is recommended. Over one-third of patients with IBD want help for bowel control problems.

Keywords: Bowel control; Fecal incontinence; Inflammatory bowel disease; Screening; Urgency.

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References

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