Impact of Bowel Management Guidelines on Documentation and Patient Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit

Authors

Alana Trottier, Maine Medical Center
Paul Blakeslee, Maine Medical Center
Kristiina Hyrkas, Maine Medical CenterFollow

Files

Description

Introduction

• Bowel management (BM) is an inadvertently overlooked aspect of patient care for critically ill patients who have complex, immediate life-threatening health issues.

• Bowel dysfunction is common with the reported incidence of diarrhea between 3.3%-78% and constipation between 20-83%

• Studies suggest that BM guidelines can standardize care, improve documentation, and impact patient outcomes

• Use of BM guidelines has remained low, probably influenced by clinicians’ resistance to change, resulting in small to moderate improvements and difficulties sustaining new practices

• We anticipated that sustained changes require recognizing clinicians’ current practice, integrating modifications into existing workflow, and engaging staff to contribute to any proposed changes

Publication Date

2021

Publisher

Maine Medical Center

City

Portland, Maine

Keywords

Bowel Management, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit, Guidelines

Disciplines

Critical Care | Gastroenterology

Recommended Citation

Trottier, Alana; Blakeslee, Paul; and Hyrkas, Kristiina, "Impact of Bowel Management Guidelines on Documentation and Patient Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit" (2021). Costas T. Lambrew Research Retreat 2021. 14.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/lambrew-retreat-2021/14