Bladder and bowel dysfunction in childhood: multi-method approach

Abstract

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic profile, access and interest in receiving online information about bladder and bowel dysfunction as well as understand the experience of families of children and adolescents affected by this dysfunction. Methods: This is a multi-methodological study carried out in an outpatient clinic of Advanced Nursing Practice in uropediatrics of a teaching hospital in midwestern Brazil. Results: The experience of families of children with bladder and bowel dysfunction points to a negative impact on everyday life, which may be related to sociodemographic conditions, lack of knowledge of families about the symptoms and stigmas associated with its manifestation. To this end, access to online information is a potential support tool to improve the experience of children's families with the symptoms. Conclusion: The results express children's sociodemographic characterization and their family and the access and interest in receiving information on the internet about bladder and bowel dysfunction, which may be important for compliance and perception of improvement in symptoms, reflecting on family experience. Therefore, nurses who work in the context of uropediatrics care need to innovate in their approach and implement new care modalities or health interventions, mainly through the incorporation of internet-based technologies, aimed at improving the quality of life of both the families and children with bladder and bowel dysfunction.