Caterina Grano1, Dalia Aminoff2, Fabio Lucidi3, Cristiano Violani4. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: caterina.grano@uniroma1.it. 2. Italian Parents and Patients Organization for Anorectal Malformation (AIMAR), 00199 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: aimar@aimar.eu. 3. Department of Social and Development Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: fabio.lucidi@uniroma1.it. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Rome "La Sapienza," 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: cristiano.violani@uniroma1.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fecal and urinary incontinence may differently influence various aspects of quality of life (QOL). The main aim of the present study is to determine whether fecal and urinary incontinence measured at time 1 of the study will predict QOL at time 2 (after 4 years), above and beyond the prediction already explained by fecal and urinary incontinence at time 2. METHODS: Thirty-six adult patients from the Italian Parents' and Patients' Association for Anorectal Malformations answered items about urinary and fecal incontinence at time 1 of the study and completed the Hirschsprung Disease/Anorectal Malformation Quality of Life questionnaire after 4 years from the first questionnaire. Two sets of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with fecal and urinary incontinence serving as predictors of QOL and the different areas of QOL from the Hirschsprung Disease/Anorectal Malformation Quality of Life serving as outcome variables. RESULTS: The principal findings indicated that fecal continence is a strong predictor of QOL in the areas of social functioning, emotional functioning, and body image and that urinary incontinence predicted sexual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that one's past experience with fecal incontinence is extremely relevant to current QOL, especially for body image. Urinary incontinence contributed less in explaining QOL in our patients, but because it is very relevant for sexual functioning, it should not be disregarded.
BACKGROUND: Fecal and urinary incontinence may differently influence various aspects of quality of life (QOL). The main aim of the present study is to determine whether fecal and urinary incontinence measured at time 1 of the study will predict QOL at time 2 (after 4 years), above and beyond the prediction already explained by fecal and urinary incontinence at time 2. METHODS: Thirty-six adult patients from the Italian Parents' and Patients' Association for Anorectal Malformations answered items about urinary and fecal incontinence at time 1 of the study and completed the Hirschsprung Disease/Anorectal Malformation Quality of Life questionnaire after 4 years from the first questionnaire. Two sets of hierarchical regression analyses were conducted with fecal and urinary incontinence serving as predictors of QOL and the different areas of QOL from the Hirschsprung Disease/Anorectal Malformation Quality of Life serving as outcome variables. RESULTS: The principal findings indicated that fecal continence is a strong predictor of QOL in the areas of social functioning, emotional functioning, and body image and that urinary incontinence predicted sexual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that one's past experience with fecal incontinence is extremely relevant to current QOL, especially for body image. Urinary incontinence contributed less in explaining QOL in our patients, but because it is very relevant for sexual functioning, it should not be disregarded.
Authors: Urte Zurbuchen; Joern Groene; Susanne D Otto; Martin E Kreis; Stefanie Maerzheuser Journal: Int J Colorectal Dis Date: 2014-07-05 Impact factor: 2.571