Bowel Control Awareness Campaign

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Resources for Health Care Providers

Did you know that nearly 18 million U.S. adults have fecal incontinence? Out of every 12 patients you see, both young and old, one is likely to be struggling with the condition.

Many people do not seek help because they are embarrassed. As a health care provider, you can start the conversation about bowel control.

The following resources are meant to aid in diagnosis and treatment.

Publications

• Diagnosis and Management of Fecal Incontinence (PDF, 181KB) *
  Current practice guidelines for diagnosis and management of fecal incontinence, developed and reviewed by the American College of Gastroenterology Parameters Committee

  Courtesy of:
  Satish S.C. Rao, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P. 
  Department of Neurogastroenterology & Motility, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

  Permission to post granted by:
  The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG)

• NIH State-of-the-Science Conference Statement on Prevention of Fecal and Urinary Incontinence in Adults
  Consensus statement on prevention of fecal and urinary incontinence prepared by an independent panel of health professionals and public representatives on the basis of a systematic literature review, presentations by investigators in the field, public discussion, and closed deliberations

• Fecal Incontinence Severity Index
  Journal article describing the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index, which is based on a type x frequency matrix and was developed using input from both patients and colon and rectal surgeons; the matrix includes four types of leakage common in people with fecal incontinence—gas, mucus, liquid stool, and solid stool—and five frequencies—one to three times per month, once per week, twice per week, once per day, and twice per day

• Prevention of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in Adults
  Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality evidence report/technology assessment of the prevalence and risk factors for urinary and fecal incontinence in elderly adults, the effectiveness of diagnostic methods to identify adults with incontinence and those at risk, and the effectiveness of clinical interventions to reduce the risk of incontinence

Tools

The following pages provide printable materials or links to resources that can be given to patients to help them record bowel activity and eating habits.

• Stool Diary (PDF, 148KB) *
  Chart for recording daily bowel movement details such as time, presence of incontinence, stool seepage or staining, stool consistency, and urgency; additional details such as use of pads, medications, and other comments can be recorded

  Adapted from Diagnosis and Management of Fecal Incontinence

• Bristol Stool Form Scale
  Illustration of the seven stool types, which can be used to help fill out the stool diary

  Text reproduced with permission from Lewis SJ, Heaton KW, Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 1997; 32(9):920–924. ©1997 Informa Healthcare.

• Links to Food Diaries
  Links to resources for recording daily food and beverage intake

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Page last updated: July 15, 2011