Selected abstracts from the 24th Biennial WCET® Congress in Glasgow, UK

Aims/ObjectivesThe presentation aim is to describe nursing management of bo el symptoms occurring after rectal cancer treatment.The objectives are to improve nurses' knowledge and confidence when caring for this patient group.Purpose & Background It is known, worldwide each year an estimated million people are diagnosed with rectal cancer (Emmertsen & Laurberg, 2013).Rectal cancer treatment is commonly surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy which can potentially result in consequences such as bowel dysfunction, collectively termed low anterior resection syndrome or LARS (Keane et al. 2020).The purpose of this presentation will be to increase knowledge about managing LARS after rectal cancer surgery.Methods A PhD was undertaken using a multi-phase, mixed-method design to investigate LARS management.A systematic review thematically summarised how rectal cancer treatment consequences affect quality of life.A scoping review charted treatments available to manage LARS.Interviews thematically described what patients need to manage LARS.Focus groups with both patients and clinicians thematically described how this might be achieved. ResultsResults reveal quality of life can be negatively affected by LARS, particularly when people could not function in their chosen roles (Burch et al, 2021a).Multiple LARS management options exist but empirical data are limited (Burch et al, 2021b).Patients need knowledgeable clinicians to enquire about and revisit symptoms; providing information on management strategies and signposting to other relevant information (Burch et al, 2023a).Clinicians can help set expectations to enable realistic goal planning (Burch et al, 2023b).Nurse-led supported LARS management can improve bowel symptoms in conjunction with supplementary information. Conclusion/OutcomeIn conclusion, a greater knowledge about LARS should increase nurses' confidence to assist patients with rectal cancer to manage their bowel symptoms after rectal cancer treatment.More research is needed to understand how best to provide nurse-led LARS interventions.