Improving bowel management in adults with intellectual disability

Abstract

Neurodevelopmental nurses set up a community bowel information and support service to improve laxative prescribing and constipation management for adults with intellectual disability. Carers reported improved physical and psychological behavioural outcomes that led to a better quality of life for people in this group.

In this article…

• Why adults with intellectual disability need support with bowel management

• Why over-reliance on laxatives is a potential issue for this group

• How to set up a bowel support service for adults with intellectual disability

Nursing Times Awards

This initiative won the Continence Promotion and Care category in the 2023 Nursing Times Awards

To find out more about the NT Awards go to awards.nursingtimes.net

Key points

Constipation is more common in adults with intellectual disability than in the general population

In England, 12 deaths of adults with intellectual disability were attributed to constipation in 2018

Adults with intellectual disability are more likely to be on long-term laxatives than the general population, and are at risk of laxative dependency

GPs may be reluctant to prescribe laxatives ‘as needed’ because of safety concerns

A bowel support service in primary care can improve prescribing decisions and constipation management for adults with intellectual disability