# Coping with bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection for rectal cancer: A qualitative synthesis

## TL;DR

This study explores how patients cope with bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery, highlighting the need for comprehensive support to improve their quality of life.

## Contribution

The study provides a qualitative synthesis of patient experiences and coping strategies following rectal cancer surgery, emphasizing psychosocial adaptation.

## Key findings

- Patients experience uncertainty and disrupted daily life due to unpredictable bowel symptoms.
- Coping strategies include self-care practices, emotional support, and psychological acceptance.
- Comprehensive psychosocial support is essential for long-term well-being beyond symptom management.

## Abstract

This study synthesized existing qualitative research on patients’ experiences of bowel dysfunction following low anterior resection for rectal cancer and examined the strategies they use to cope and adapt to related challenges.

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for qualitative studies published up to June 2025, supplemented by reference screening. A meta-ethnographic approach was employed to integrate findings interpretively while preserving the contextual depth of individual studies.

Twenty-two studies involving 415 participants were included. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) living with uncertainty, (2) experiencing social isolation and disconnection, and (3) striving to establish a new balance in life. Patients reported unpredictable bowel symptoms that disrupted daily activities, generating uncertainty, social withdrawal, and psychological distress. Despite these challenges, patients gradually adapted through self-care practices, emotional support, and psychological acceptance, which facilitated a shift toward stability and improved quality of life.

Bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection imposes substantial physical, psychological, and social challenges on patients. Supporting adaptation requires patient-centered nursing interventions that extend beyond symptom management to provide comprehensive psychosocial support, promote self-care, and enhance long-term well-being.

PROSPERO CRD42024590342.