Controlling fecal incontinence with sensory retraining managed by advanced practice nurses.

Fecal incontinence is a devastating condition affecting more than one million people in the United States. All afflicted individuals experience degrees of low self-esteem and social isolation. Bowel training programs have frequently been the focus of preventive care. Although existing treatment modalities are effective for some patients, they are often more costly. Sensory retraining can help some patients achieve and maintain their personal maximum fecal continence. This program can be managed successfully by advanced practice nurses in nonhospital settings. For appropriate patients, it represents a positive alternative to existing treatment methods.