Self-Report of Behaviors to Manage Neurogenic Bowel and Bladder by Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Frequency and Associated Outcomes

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) often experience bladder and bowel dysfunction, impacting their quality of life. Managing these dysfunctions requires complex behaviors, but research supporting specific recommendations is limited. This study describes the behaviors used by individuals with chronic SCI to manage neurogenic bowel and bladder and explores the relationship between these behaviors and health outcomes, including quality of life. The research emphasizes the need for clinicians to regularly review management recommendations with their patients to ensure they are current and understood, as many individuals are unsure of the sources of their management activities.

• 1
  Methods used to manage neurogenic bowel and bladder are multifaceted, with consistency in some areas but significant variations based on neurological status and quality of life.
• 2
  Many people with SCI are unsure about the sources of recommendations for their bowel and bladder management activities.
• 3
  Certain bowel and bladder management behaviors are associated with quality of life, bladder complications, and bowel complications.