Jane Hampton, Jo Higgins & Vikki Cronin describe the difficulties they encountered when undertaking a research project involving housebound people.
Karen Irwin discusses the protocols surrounding the use of digital rectal examination and manual removal of faeces and offers a step by step guide to performing the procedure.
Karen Irwin BA (Hons) RGN, DN is a Clinical Nurse Specialist - Bowel Dysfunction within the Community Health Care Bolton NHS Trust.
Article accepted for publication May 2001.
