Purpose: To describe the occurrence and severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis among community-dwelling individuals with fecal incontinence.
Design: Descriptive and comparative secondary data analysis.
Subjects and setting: One hundred eighty-nine community-dwelling individuals with fecal incontinence who participated in a study comparing the effects of dietary fiber on fecal incontinence.
Methods: A survey on the use of absorbent products that contained questions about subjects' history of skin damage was administered at the start of the study.
Results: Incontinence-associated dermatitis occurred in 52.5% of the community-living individuals with fecal incontinence. The severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis was mostly mild to moderate and occurred periodically. Redness without broken skin was the most common manifestation (68%). Most individuals (95%) reported the location of skin damage to be the anal/rectal area. Those with double incontinence also reported dermatitis around the vagina or penis. Individuals with a greater severity of fecal incontinence had a greater severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis (r = 0.27, P = .000). Both the frequency of incontinence (r = 0.23, P < .002) and the amount of feces leaked (r = 0.23, P < .002) had a significant correlation with incontinence-associated dermatitis severity. There were no significant differences in the occurrence or severity of incontinence-associated dermatitis by sex, age, or presence of double incontinence.
Conclusion: A high percentage of individuals in the community with fecal incontinence suffer from incontinence-associated dermatitis at times. This population may benefit from consultation with a WOC nurse about prevention and management of incontinence-associated dermatitis.