Nursing Recommendations for Symptom-Specific Self-care of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome

Background Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a result of removing part or most of the rectum as a treatment for rectal cancer that negatively impacts quality of life. There is a lack of standardized nursing symptom-specific self-care recommendations for patients suffering from LARS. Objective The aim of this study was to map the existing research regarding nursing guidelines and symptom-specific recommendations for LARS self-care. Methods A systematic scoping review using 4 comprehensive databases (ProQuest, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science) was completed using the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Applying specified search terms, relevant articles were extracted using criteria and entered into an Excel database. Results Three publications met the study inclusion criteria: 1 randomized controlled pilot study; 1 nonrandomized, retrospective pilot study; and 1 retrospective, comparative, cross-sectional study. No professional nursing guidelines were found, but 3 nurse-led management programs were reviewed. Publications provided self-care nursing recommendations for all LARS symptoms except for repeated painful stools/tenesmus, soiling, or discrimination disorders/flatulence. Combination of nursing self-care recommendations included dietary/lifestyle modifications, fiber supplements/bulking agents, antidiarrheal and laxative over-the-counter medications, and pelvic floor muscle exercises. Conclusions When mapping the literature, there appears to be nurse-led management programs and recommendations for self-care for patients with LARS for almost all symptoms. Yet, there are no standardized recommendations. Implications for Practice Professional nursing practice guidelines for all symptoms are lacking. Nursing recommendations for self-care of LARS exist and need to be expanded and standardized to include all symptoms. Further research regarding comprehensive nursing self-care recommendations and management is warranted.