Impact of OASIS in women’s life
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Qualitative, quantitative and economic study of the impact of obstetric injury related to faecal incontinence on a woman's life
IRAS ID
260351
Contact name
Alessandra Orlando
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
During childbirth, an injury to the anal sphincters (the muscles that control stool and wind from the anus) can lead to a condition called faecal incontinence (the loss of stool or gas from the anus that is out of our control). Incontinence is considered worse than death among patients in hospital with serious illness and undoubtedly has massive impact on the woman’s life, with lasting and possibly permanent damage. Obstetricians send patients with anal sphincter injury to colorectal doctors so do not see the ongoing impact of the symptoms. The true impact of this devastating condition on women’s day-to-day life is not generally discussed and results to be an understudied topic. Most of the studies looking at quality of life concentrate on the personal impact of FI (faecal incontinence) in terms of shame, embarrassment and feelings of isolation but more insight should be given to the true impact in terms of changes these women have to undergo in their life to accomodate this condition. This study aims to bring more evidence to this condition due also to a concomitant lack of awareness between women in childbearing age and patients themselves who found themselves with symptoms of faecal incontinence post childbirth and are not sure on how to deal with this: shame and embarrassment refrain patients to seek assistance and the primary-care setting at post-childbirths checks can sometimes miss or underestimate faecal incontinence. Bringing more attention to this topic we aim to improve the healthcare to these patients. This project’s evidence will work towards the design of another study to look into the consent process for instrumental delivery (use of forceps or ventouse) in terms of patient’s information on risks and complication associated with the use of instruments at childbirth and evaluating alternatives to instrumental delivery.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0437
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Unfavourable Opinion