title: Adults with myelomeningocele: an interview study about life situation and bladder and bowel management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess life situation, and bladder and bowel management in individuals with myelomeningocele (MMC) after transferal to adult medical care.
  
  
  METHODS
  All individuals (134) with myelomeningocele from western Sweden, born before 1981, and assessed on at least two occasions by a pediatric urologist, were invited to participate in a telephone interview according to a structured protocol. Sixty-nine individuals (32 males, 37 females) with a median age of 34 years (range 27-50) agreed to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two individuals (90%) passed high school or had university education and 46 (67%) were employed. Fifty-three (77%) had their own apartment and 27 (39%) lived with a partner. Clean intermittent catheterization was used by 49 (71%), more commonly in females (p < 0.05). Pads were used by 60 (87%) individuals. Ten (14%) had urotherapy support. Of those operated on, 16 (53%) had a consultation with a urologist every 3 years; the corresponding number for the non-operated was 12 (31%). Eight individuals were treated with anticholinergic drugs. None had support for improvement of the fecal emptying regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the participants in the study, one third had no or rare contact with a urologist, few had urotherapy support and none had support for bowel regimen.
authors.affiliation: Regional Rehabilitation Centre Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-418 04 Gothenburg, Sweden. magdalena.vuminh-arnell@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vu Minh Arnell
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seljee Svedberg
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindehall
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jodal
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abrahamsson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy