Okanlami Oluwaferanmi O, Kreschmer Jodi M, Gupta Saumya, Lee Allison, Sarma Aruna V, Streur Courtney S
Department of Family Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Front Pediatr. 2024 Sep 27;12:1397229. doi: 10.3389/fped.2024.1397229. eCollection 2024.
Health care providers caring for youth with physical disabilities encourage them to be as independent as possible, which includes obtaining higher education when feasible. However, little is known about the experiences of higher education students in managing their toileting.
We performed 1:1 semi-structured interviews with 13 current college students with physical disabilities (4 male, 9 female), of whom six were on a formal bladder and/or bowel management program. Three researchers analyzed all transcripts using constructivist grounded theory procedures.
We identified six themes, including: (1) adherence to prescribed programs, (2) importance of time management, (3) interfering with class, (4) balancing intake and toileting, (5) campus bathroom experiences, and (6) acclimating to new living situations. Students needed strong personal skills in time management, adaptability, and self-advocacy to both manage their toileting needs and engage in academic and social activities. This often took time to develop while in college. They faced barriers such as a lack of private, well-maintained bathrooms.
Health care providers should encourage their patients to develop these personal skills prior to starting college, while colleges need to better support these students through honoring their accommodation needs and ensuring the availability of private, accessible bathrooms.
照顾身体残疾青少年的医疗服务提供者鼓励他们尽可能独立，这包括在可行的情况下接受高等教育。然而，对于高等教育阶段的残疾学生在管理如厕方面的经历，我们知之甚少。
我们对13名目前在读的身体残疾大学生（4名男性，9名女性）进行了一对一的半结构化访谈，其中6人正在接受正式的膀胱和/或肠道管理计划。三名研究人员使用建构主义扎根理论程序对所有访谈记录进行了分析。
我们确定了六个主题，包括：（1）遵守规定的计划，（2）时间管理的重要性，（3）干扰课堂，（4）平衡摄入量和如厕，（5）校园卫生间体验，以及（6）适应新的生活环境。学生需要具备强大的时间管理、适应能力和自我倡导等个人技能，以便既能满足如厕需求，又能参与学术和社交活动。这通常需要在大学期间花费时间来培养。他们面临着一些障碍，比如缺乏私密且维护良好的卫生间。
医疗服务提供者应鼓励他们的患者在进入大学之前培养这些个人技能，而大学则需要通过尊重他们的住宿需求并确保提供私密、无障碍的卫生间，来更好地支持这些学生。
