Effectiveness of Patient Group Meetings for Postoperative Patients with Defecatory Dysfunction

Background: Research on a peer support for patients after low anterior resection (LAR) is now limited. Little is then known about the effectiveness of patient group meeting for such patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of patient group meetings for the LAR postoperative patients with defecatory dysfunction. Methods: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted. Twenty-six patients (mean age: 65.6 years old) participated in this study. The patient group meetings were held three times for six months, consisting health education and group discussions. Knowledge and Emotion were measured using visual analogue scale. Defecatory dysfunction was measured using a scale. The QOL was measured by EORTC QLQ-C30. T test, Chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test, paired t test, multiple linear regression analysis and Spearman’s rank correlation were used for the statistical analyses. Results: Participants in the patient group meetings gained information on defecatory dysfunction and coping with diarrhea. Their score of scales estimating defecatory dysfunction were stable. They reported higher, but not significant, global health status/QOL and significantly higher Social Functioning. Significant decreased symptom scores of Fatigue and Diarrhea were obtained depending on the participation rate. A decreased symptom score in Diarrhea was related to the increase in the global health status/QOL and Social Functioning, and not related to the change in the defecatory dysfunction. Conclusion: A patient group meeting for the patients after LAR has positive health effects on the QOL of diarrhea. The results suggest the importance of patient group meeting to survival related to QOL of such patients. Healthcare providers should be aware of the importance of patient group meeting to improve the survival related to QOL in the postoperative patients with defecatory dysfunction.