title: Phenomenological study of neurogenic bowel from the perspective of individuals living with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain greater insight into the lived experience of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative (phenomenologic) interviews and analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with SCI and NBD (N=19) residing in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concerns related to living with NBD after SCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Challenges related to living with SCI and NBD included costs and requirements, emotional impact, diet, education and employment, intimacy and interpersonal relations, social participation, spontaneity and daily schedule, travel, lack of appropriate and consistent assistance, loss of autonomy (independence, privacy), lack of predictability and fear of incontinence, medical complications, pain or discomfort, physical effort of the bowel routine, physical experience, and time requirements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Living with NBD presents many challenges. When categorized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, identified domains include body functions and structures, activity, participation, environmental factors, and personal factors. Identified issues have implications for improving clinical management and should be assessed when determining the impact and efficacy of interventions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Brain and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: anthony.burns@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Anthony S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing Science, Laval University, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Daphney
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: St-Germain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, Saint Catharines, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.affiliation: Brain and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Jude J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Delparte
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Andréanne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guindon
authors.affiliation: Institute for Life Course and Aging, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Sander L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hitzig
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Brain and Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Neural Engineering and Therapeutics Team, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: B Catharine
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Craven
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D055496:Neurogenic Bowel / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D058992:Social Participation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Neurogenic bowel; Paraplegia; Quadriplegia; Qualitative research; Rehabilitation; Spinal cord injuries