title: Neurogenic bowel after spinal cord injury from the perspective of support providers: a phenomenological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain greater insight into the experience of support providers who assist and support individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) for the performance of bowel care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative (phenomenological) interviews and analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten support providers of individuals with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Themes related to supporting bowel care for individuals with SCI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Support providers identified concerns and challenges as well as sources of satisfaction related to the provision of bowel care to individuals with SCI. Traits and characteristics of effective support providers also emerged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with SCI often require emotional, logistical, and/or physical assistance to complete bowel care. Exploration of neurogenic bowel care from the perspective of support providers identified concerns and challenges, sources of satisfaction, and important traits and characteristics of support providers. This information can facilitate the identification of effective support providers and the provision of enhanced training and support. Interventions of this nature can improve the experience for individuals with SCI and their supports.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Brain & 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, Université Laval, 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 & 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: Chercheure Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale (CIRRIS), Quebec City, QC, Canada(¶).
authors.forename: Andréanne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guindon
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute for Life Course and Aging, Toronto, ON, Canada(||).
authors.forename: Sander L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hitzig
authors.affiliation: Brain & Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program, University Health Network-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Physiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada(#).
authors.forename: B Catharine
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Craven
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055496:Neurogenic Bowel / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012944:Social Support; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*