Journal of Gastrointestinal & Digestive System
Open Access

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects approximately 2.5 million people worldwide. These persons form a heterogeneous clinical group with respect to age, stage and severity of MS with a range of combination of disabilities (function) and participatory restriction within varying social environments and support structures. This presentation will outline management of neurogenic bladder in persons with MS. Findings from a number of research projects conducted at the MS Rehabilitation program at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Australia will be presented. These projects address a range of methodological problems in conducting research in MS rehabilitation programs relevant to bladder and bowel care, and their solutions. These include issues of randomized trials and other study designs in MS programs, value of observational studies, clinical practice improvement programs, individualized goal attainment processes and issues of outcome measurement. In addition results of systematic reviews for efficacy of rehabilitation input for bladder care in persons with MS will be presented. The evidence to support bladder rehabilitation in the context of randomized controlled trial and sexual dysfunction will be addressed in clinical settings.

Biography

A/Prof Fary Khan is a Principal Fellow at the Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne and Director of Rehabilitation at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Australia. She completed her specialist training with the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2000 and her Doctoral thesis (Title: Rehabilitation for Multiple sclerosis) in 2008 at the University of Melbourne. Her interests include: Women’s health, Outcome measurement in rehabilitation. She has published over 100 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals. She is coordinating editor of the Cochrane Multiple Sclerosis Review group (2009) and Executive Committee member AFRM for the International Classification of Disability, Health and Functioning, WHO (2006).