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Assessing bowel dysfunction - taking a history

Watch this video for a demonstration of an example clinical assessment of a man with bowel problems.

Watch clinician Fiona Saunders take ‘Mr Smith’s’ history to assess his bowel dysfunction.


Your task

Make notes on the specific skills the assessor used to:

  1. Put Mr Smith at ease

  2. Identify his symptoms

  3. Identify the effects of his symptoms on his lifestyle

  4. Understand how he feels about his bowel symptoms

Did the assessor and Mr Smith agree any goals?

Was there anything missing from the assessment?

Don’t forget to capture your thinking in your learning log or portfolio.

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Understanding Continence Promotion: Effective Management of Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction in Adults

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