Creation and validation of a new tool for the monitoring efﬁcacy of neurogenic bowel dysfunction treatment on response: the MENTOR tool

Spinal Cord, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-0424-8 · Published: January 27, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Gastroenterology Research Methodology & Design

Simple Explanation

Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is a common issue for people with spinal cord injuries, affecting their quality of life. The MENTOR tool was created to help healthcare providers assess the effectiveness of bowel management treatments for individuals with SCI. The MENTOR tool uses a simple 'traffic light' system to categorize patients, suggesting whether their treatment is adequate, needs discussion, or requires change.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

241 individuals with SCI

Evidence Level

Prospective observational study

Key Findings

1
The MENTOR tool shows good agreement with expert clinicians in identifying patients who need a change in bowel management.
2
The tool is easy to use, with most patients completing it in about 5 minutes and reporting that it is easy to understand.
3
The study showed that MENTOR performed well in both routine and complication-driven clinical settings.

Research Summary

This study introduces and validates the MENTOR tool, designed to monitor the effectiveness of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) treatment in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The MENTOR tool demonstrated strong agreement with expert clinicians' assessments and high patient acceptability. The authors conclude that MENTOR is a reliable tool for supporting clinical decision-making in managing NBD among the SCI population and could potentially be used in other patient groups pending further studies.

Practical Implications

Improved Clinical Decision Making

MENTOR can help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions regarding bowel management for SCI patients.

Enhanced Patient Monitoring

The tool offers a structured way to monitor the effectiveness of NBD treatments and identify when adjustments are needed.

Streamlined Clinical Pathway

MENTOR's ease of use and quick completion time facilitate integration into standard clinical workflows.

Study Limitations

1
The tool has been validated against a subjective measure, the decision of an expert clinician.
2
Absence of recording quality of life in our sample.
3
The MENTOR tool was translated into a range of languages for the countries where the study was undertaken, and found to be equally comprehensible and usable in all settings.

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