Frontiers in Pediatrics (Sep 2020)

Assessment of Needs in Children Suffering From Refractory Non-neurogenic Urinary and Fecal Incontinence and Their Caregivers' Needs and Attitudes Toward Alternative Therapies (SNM, TENS)

  • Joana Dos Santos,
  • Joana Dos Santos,
  • Edyta Marcon,
  • Edyta Marcon,
  • Martha Pokarowski,
  • Reza Vali,
  • Reza Vali,
  • Lucshman Raveendran,
  • Lucshman Raveendran,
  • Fardod O'Kelly,
  • Afsaneh Amirabadi,
  • Dean Elterman,
  • Richard Foty,
  • Armando Lorenzo,
  • Martin Koyle,
  • Martin Koyle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.00558
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Background: Non-neurogenic urinary and fecal incontinence (UI, FI) affects approximately 6% of North American children with 1% of cases becoming refractory (nonresponsive to standard therapies). Incontinence has major potential long-term physiological and psychological implications for patients and their families. While Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) and Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation (TENS) are alternative therapies available for the treatment of refractory UI/FI, these are not approved for use in children in Canada. The present study assessed participants' perception of current treatments, incontinence burden, and attitudes toward novel therapies in a single pediatric institution.Methods: Multiple validated questionnaires including Dysfunctional Voiding Scoring System (DVSS), Bristol Stool Chart (BSC), Pediatric Incontinence measurement (PinQ), and Time-Driven Activity Based Costing were used to perform a needs assessment for patients with non-neurogenic refractory incontinence, and to determine patients' and caregivers' attitudes toward alternative therapies.Results: 75% of patients and 89% of caregivers reported a moderate to severe impact of incontinence on QoL with diminished social interactions among the primary concerns. Caregivers were frustrated with current treatments and were open to trying alternative therapies (SNM and TENS), which, at least in the case of SNM, seems to be less expensive, possibly less burdensome and more effective than current surgical options.Conclusion: Pediatric refractory UI/FI has a large impact on patients' and caregivers' QoL and alternative therapies with the potential to improve QoL of patients and caregivers should be further investigated as a substitute for surgery.

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