Stoma formation as a palliative procedure: the role of the clinical nurse specialist in maintaining quality of life.

More than half of patients diagnosed with colon cancer present at an advanced stage, and palliative treatment may involve stoma formation. A literature review was undertaken to determine the potential effects of stoma formation as a palliative procedure on a patient's quality of life, and to examine the role of the clinical nurse specialist in this situation. Limited literature was found on this specific subject, so established evidence surrounding stoma formation and quality of life was examined in relation to palliative care.

Continence care education: views of students and registered nurses.

Background: this article reports on a study of continence education and training for students and qualified nurses.

Aims: to understand how nurses and nursing students gain their knowledge in continence education and training, to examine nurses' understanding of bladder and bowel care and to discover to what degree nurses are confident in their knowledge of bladder and bowel care.

Methods: this was a qualitative enquiry and a case study methodology was used to frame the research.

Outcomes in non-surgical management for bowel dysfunction.

This retrospective review considers clinical outcomes of patients following non-surgical management of bowel dysfunction (faecal incontinence and constipation), within a tertiary centre's pelvic floor unit. Between November 2010 and January 2013, 443 patients were entered into a database and the results of their treatment were recorded. To capture the treatment modalities that patients received they were grouped into three categories: defaecatory techniques and/or pelvic floor exercises; dietary advice and/or medication recommendations; rectal irrigation or the use of anal plugs.