Children’s medical trauma in FCFI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring medical trauma experiences in children with functional constipation and faecal incontinence
IRAS ID
253090
Contact name
Tara S Shea
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
This research aims to explore experiences of medical trauma in children. Medical trauma is described as negative responses that children and their families have to injury, pain, serious illness, scary treatment experiences and medical procedures (The National Traumatic Stress Network, 2018). This study will specifically be focusing on children living with ongoing functional constipation (FC) and faecal incontinence (FI) along with their families. FC for this study is defined as a child who has difficulty or a delay with bowel movements (less than 2 per week). FI is also known as leaking, soiling or overflow and is defined for the study as a having a bowel movement that happens without control over the age of 4 years old (one per month for more than 3 months). Children and their families have reported traumatic medical experiences which impact on hospitalisation, procedures/treatments and daily functioning. As there is no known current research looking at this patient group and trauma experiences, this is a qualitative study involving face to face interviews with children and families with ongoing FC/FI. These interviews aim to explore and describe traumatic medical experiences related to FC/FI. The patient population will be composed of patients from The Royal London Hospital who have had a referral to the Children’s Anorectal Physiology Service (CAPS) and been identified as having or in need of psychological support. Through exploring their unique perspectives, it is believed that a theory can be developed to explain how their experiences may contribute to the development of medical trauma related to their condition. The study is part of a PhD project that has been fully funded through Barts Charity.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0474
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion