Patients' experiences of living with low anterior resection syndrome three to six months after colorectal cancer surgery: A phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Increased use of sphincter-preserving surgery following colorectal cancer has led to more people living with low anterior resection syndrome (LARS), a disordered bowel function that significantly impacts quality of life. Little is known about how patients experience the first months following sphincter-preserving surgery and having LARS. OBJECTIVE: To shed light on what it means to live with LARS in the first three to six months after colorectal cancer sphincter-preserving surgery. METHOD: A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach constitutes the study design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five participants from September 2022 to January 2023. The transcribed interviews were analysed using Giorgi's phenomenological method. RESULTS: Five themes emerged from the analysis: bowel emptying becomes all-consuming and affects both daily life and working life, you hear what they're saying, but don't understand what it means until your body goes through it, low anterior resection syndrome may impact sexual life, leaving feelings of guilt, it doesn't matter what the circumstances are, but rather how one deals with them, and support and follow-up from healthcare professionals, employers, family and friends are crucial for living a good life with LARS. CONCLUSION: Participants described struggles living with major LARS in the early period following hospital discharge. However, few months later, they had developed strategies enabling them to control their everyday life. Support and follow-up from healthcare professionals, employers, family, and friends were crucial when learning to live with major LARS. Participants expressed desire for a systematic and proactive follow-up from healthcare professionals and contact with peer-support groups.

Women's experiences of assessment for urinary incontinence: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: One in four women experience urinary incontinence. A woman's medical history, a physical examination and certain tests can guide specialists in diagnosing and offering treatment. Despite the high prevalence, little is known about women's experience of urinary incontinence assessment. AIM: To explore the experience of a group of women undergoing an assessment for urinary incontinence. METHODS: Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 women who had been assessed for urinary incontinence. A thematic reflective analysis method was used. FINDINGS: The women experienced a lot of shame and worry related to their urinary incontinence and the assessment. Having a safe relationship with the urotherapist was very important, and being given information about treatment options gave hope for a better life. CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence and its assessment are associated with shame and anxiety. A good patient-urotherapist relationship is paramount and learning that treatments are available made women feel more optimistic about the future.