title: Raising awareness about fecal incontinence.
abstract: There is a lack of awareness about fecal incontinence despite its prevalence and adverse impact on quality of life. Inadequate knowledge about fecal incontinence deters help-seeking, therapeutic consultation, and clinical research about effective prevention and management strategies. A systematic, evidenced-based approach to raise awareness of fecal incontinence is essential to forward progress and overcome multiple barriers. In this manuscript, strategies of this approach are prioritized and focus on increasing continence literacy and communication, emphasizing prevention and screening, disseminating evidenced-based management interventions, and promoting larger scale impact through effective partnerships.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, USA. bliss@umn.edu
authors.forename: Donna Z
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Bliss
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Vodusek
mesh_terms: D001364:Awareness; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000639:trends; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors