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

OBJECTIVE

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.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42024590342.