Barriers to Rectal Irrigation in Defaecatory Dysfunction

Plain-language summary

Rectal irrigation is the introduction of warm tap water through the anal canal into the rectum to initiate defaecation. NICE recommends that rectal irrigation be considered in patients with constipation(1) and faecal incontinence (2) refractory to conservative measures such as lifestyle advice and pharmacological therapy, and bio-feedback therapy which is a treatment to help patients learn to strengthen or relax their pelvic floor muscles to improve bowel or bladder function by retraining the pelvic floor muscles and provides psychosocial support(3). Studies have shown that up to half patients discontinue rectal irrigation within a year of commencing therapy (4) (5). The investigators want to understand barriers to rectal irrigation by conducting focused group sessions and cognitive interviews of patients who have used or declined rectal irrigation.

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