Research Summaries from AHRQ Support Decisionmaking about Treatments for Fecal Incontinence in Adults

Research Summaries from AHRQ Support Decisionmaking about Treatments for Fecal Incontinence in Adults

Research Summaries from AHRQ Support Decisionmaking about Treatments for Fecal Incontinence in Adults

AHRQ’s new evidence-based research summaries are available to help clinicians, adults and their caregivers, make informed treatment decisions about fecal incontinence (FI) – the recurrent and involuntary loss of feces (stool), defined by the frequency of episodes and consistency of the feces.  The summaries present the benefits and harms of both nonsurgical and surgical treatments for fecal incontinence. Because the evidence on treatments is limited, it is important that clinicians and patients work together to decide which treatment approaches might be best.  A research summary for clinicians who treat patients with FI, and companion brochure for patients and their caregivers, provide important discussion points that can most affect outcome priorities and quality of life of the patient.  For electronic copies of each research summary, and the full systematic review, visit AHRQ's Effective Health Care website. Learn more about how to improve primary care.