Patient perspective on adapting to bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Bowel dysfunction is a common and significant challenge impacting quality of life after rectal cancer surgery.
• Patient self-empowerment and adaptation are key to managing bowel dysfunction.
• Limited qualitative data exists on patient perspectives regarding adaptation to bowel dysfunction post-rectal cancer surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and understand patients' perspectives on adapting to bowel dysfunction following rectal cancer surgery.
• To identify patient-valued strategies for improving quality of life in the context of bowel dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving semi-structured phone interviews with 54 adult patients who underwent rectal cancer surgery with sphincter preservation.
• Exclusion criteria included surgery within one year of recruitment, permanent stoma, recurrence, or metastasis.
• Thematic analysis was employed to identify helpful adaptations, with bowel dysfunction assessed using the Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) score.

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: lifestyle changes, supportive relationships and self-compassion, communication and resource access, and adapting to social/cultural challenges.
• Subthemes included forward planning, self-compassion, and addressing social stigma.
• Patient groups showed varying degrees of LARS: 39% no LARS, 22% minor LARS, and 39% major LARS.

Conclusions:

• Patient perspectives on adapting to bowel dysfunction offer valuable insights beyond current literature.
• These findings support a patient-centered approach to enhance outcomes and care quality for rectal cancer survivors.
• Understanding patient-driven adaptations is crucial for improving quality of life after rectal cancer treatment.