Influence of workshop attendance on management of pediatric fecal incontinence in Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background The care of children with fecal incontinence is suboptimal with inadequate support and training opportunities. The postgraduate training of pediatric surgeons on the management of fecal incontinence is inadequate since each training center is not likely to see enough number of cases yearly. Supplemental training through workshops on fecal incontinence may help to bridge the gap. The aim of this cross sectional study was to evaluate the impact of previous attendance of a workshop on fecal incontinence management practices among pediatric surgeons. Results A total of 41 respondents participated. Eleven (26.8%) respondents had attended a workshop in the past and seven (17.1%) had done a Malone antegrade continent enema (MACE) on patients. A higher proportion of respondents who had practiced for over 15 years had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence compared to those who had not attended one (90.9% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.001). The proportion of respondents who had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence and had performed a MACE (18.2%) was higher than the proportion of those who had not attended a workshop and had performed a similar procedure on patients (3.3%), p = 0.047. Conclusions One quarter of pediatric surgeons in the country surveyed had attended a workshop on fecal incontinence. Prior attendance of a workshop on fecal incontinence is significantly related to experience and significantly influenced the performance of a MACE procedure. Supplementation of the training of pediatric surgeons through workshops on fecal incontinence will help to improve capacity in pediatric colorectal surgical care.