The research article An RCT of an Internet Intervention for Pediatric Encopresis With One-Year Follow-Up is based on research conducted by the creators of UCanPoopToo. In randomized control trials (RCTs), individuals are first screened, and then placed randomly into one of the group conditions being evaluated before any intervention begins. This gold-standard design was used in this trial involving 91 patients with encopresis to evaluate the efficacy of UCanPoopToo in a much larger trial than had previous been conducted. All participants in the study continued their standard care (working with their doctor), but half were also enrolled in the UCanPoopToo program.
Before starting the trial, participants had a median 8-9 accidents per two weeks (based on retrospective report). Approximately 4-6 weeks later, those who had access to UCanPoopToo had a median 3 accidents per two weeks while those who did not have access to UCanPoopToo continued to have a median of 8 accidents (based on prospective report). At one year follow up, the patients in the UCanPoopToo group had a median 1 accidents per two weeks while those who did not have access had a median of 4.5 accidents per two weeks. At this one year time point, 64% of those with access to UCanPoopToo had ≤1 accident over two weeks. Only 28% of the doctor only group experienced similar success rates.
There is proven benefit to adding the Internet intervention UCanPoopToo to care delivered by a doctor. The ability to have access to the self-help information provided in the modules at any time, to obtain tailored content specific to an individual child, and feedback through the daily diaries, enhances the outcomes of patients and provides them with a greater understanding of the issues surrounding encopresis and techniques to eliminate it.
UCanPoopToo provides greater access to specialty care that many patients would otherwise be unable to obtain. It is a meaningful adjunct to standard medical treatment providing significant improvements in outcome for children with encopresis.
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