Knowledge, skills, and barriers to management of faecal incontinence in Australian primary care: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundGeneral practitioners (GPs) play an important role in diagnosis and management of patients with faecal incontinence (FI). However, their confidence and ability in this role are unknown.AimThis study aimed to investigate the knowledge, skills, and confidence of GPs to manage FI in primary care, and identify barriers to optimal management.Design & settingA cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires of GPs attending health education seminars across Australian capital cities.MethodMain outcome measures included: (i) clinical exposure to and previous training in FI; (ii) knowledge and skills in screening, diagnosing, and managing FI; and (iii) barriers and facilitators to optimising care. Associations between demographics, training and knowledge and skills were assessed.ResultsSome 1,285 of 1,469 GPs (87.5%) participated (mean 47.7 years [SD 11.3]). The vast majority reported poor clinical exposure to (88.5%) and training in FI management (91.3%). Subjectively, 69.7% rated their knowledge and skills in screening, assessing, and treating FI as sub-optimal. The most commonly reported (i) barrier to FI care was ‘insufficient skills’ (56.1%) and (ii) facilitators were improved referral pathways (84.6%) and increased training (67.9%). GPs with more training had better knowledge (OR 24.62, 95% CI 13.32–45.51) and skills (OR 13.87, 95% CI 7.94–24.24) in managing FI.ConclusionsClinical exposure to and training in FI amongst GPs was poor. Accordingly, knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage FI was sub-optimal. GPs recognise the importance of FI and that increased training/education and formalisation of referral pathways may improve the care of patients with FI in primary care.

Knowledge of professionals about sexuality of the ostomyzed

“…The surveyed population is consistent with that of studies of similar characteristics [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . An example of this is studies that assess the best knowledge of health care professionals on fecal incontinence.…”

“…The respondents' mean age was 47.7 years, which is very similar to the 41.6 years, on average, of the surveyed population for the completion of this work. Similarly, the professional experience in the sample of this study is < 20 years in 65% of the cases, while in the study conducted by Ng Kheng-Seong et al 23 it is 72.5%.…”

Conocimientos del profesional sobre la sexualidad del ostomizado

“…La población encuestada concuerda con la de otros estudios de similares características [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . Un ejemplo de ello son estudios que contemplan el conocimiento de profesionales sanitarios acerca de la incontinencia fecal.…”

“…La edad media de los encuestados es de 47.7 años, muy parecida a los 41.6 años de media de la población encuestada para la realización de este trabajo. De igual manera, la experiencia profesional en la muestra de este estudio es de menor de 20 años en el 65% de los casos y, en el estudio de Ng Kheng-Seong et al 23 es del 72.5%.…”