Effects of Pelvic Muscle Exercise for Fecal Incontinence and Quality of Life in Rectum Cancer Patients after Closure Colostomy

Lin, Yu-Hua

Tuesday, 23 July 2013: 3:30 PM

Yu-Hua Lin, PhD
I-Shou University, Department of Nursing,, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: the learners will be able to know the fecal incontinence (FI) status and quality of life (QoL) among rectal cancer patient following colostomy closure procedure.

Learning Objective 2: the learners will be able to know the effects of pelvic floor exercise on FI and QoL by time following colostomy closure procedure

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of pelvic floor exercise in fecal incontinence (FI) and fecal incontinence quality of life (FIQoL) following colostomy closure procedure.

Methods: The quasi-experimental design was conducted. All participants are over 20 years, conscious clear, underwent colostomy closure of colon and cancer patients. The participants were randomized distribution to experimental group (n=24, educated pelvic floor exercise, gave exercise DVD, and pamphlet of post surgical care) and a control group (n=23). Instruments include：The FI severity index, FIQoL scale, disease related variables and personal characteristics in this study. The baseline data was collected, and then pelvic floor exercise taught before patient discharge from hospital. We collected data and follow up patients at the pre discharge, and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after discharge.

Results: The study result indicated that：The mean of defecation was 7.64(SD=6.75) with a range from 1 to 25 per day. The generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis found that In the FI score, after control gender, both groups and times were significant in main effects. The experimental group had better fecal continence than control group (Z=5.96, p<.05), and 3 months fecal continence worse than 6 months (Z=3.91, p<.05) after discharge. In the overall FIQoL, after control gender, both groups and times were significant in main effects. The experimental group had better quality of life than control group (Z=7.66, p<.01), and pre-discharge (Z=4.33, p<.05) and 1 months (Z=9.30, p<.05) quality of life worse than 6 months after discharge.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that pelvic floor exercise is an effective intervention for FI and quality of life in rectum cancer patients after closure colostomy. The results can help health care providers to include this intervention in patients’ discharge plan.

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