• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine actual state and risk of constipation in the institutionalized elderly. Methods: A descriptive design was used with convenience sampling of 365 institutionalized elderly. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Results: 1) The constipation rate was 29.3%, the elderly had irregular bowel habit was 73.7%. 2) The 25.2% of the elderly was administrated laxatives. 3) High risk of constipation was 1.1%, moderate risk was 15.1%, and mild risk was 44.2% respectively 4) Risk of constipation showed significantly differences according to age, admission periods and daily fluid intake. 5) State of mobility, long-term care classification, gender, digestants and type of diet were explained 63% of risk of constipation. Conclusion: The institutionalized elderly showed a tendency toward high risk of constipation. So, effective management and application of nonpharmacologic therapy for constipation in the institutionalized elderly was needed.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was conducted to contribute on nursing practice for elderly people by identifying the effects of hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy on the alleviation of constipation. Methods: The data were collected from October to November, 2009, and the subjects included 39 elders (experimental group: 20, control group: 19) from a senior citizens center in B City who reported constipation. Experimental group received an intervention of hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy three times a week for six weeks (total: 18 times). Data about the number of defecations per week and constipation degree scores were collected one week after each treatment. Results: 1. The number of defecation in the experimental group were different from that of the control group (F=228.26, $p$ <.001). 2. The degree of reported constipation in the experimental group differed from the control group (F=170.59, $p$ <.001). Conclusion: Hand moxibustion and hand press pellet therapy was shown to be effective in alleviating the constipation of elderly people by increasing the number of defecation per week and reducing the constipation degree scores. These two interventions can thus be used for alleviating the constipation of elderly people, replacing the stool softener and enema.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lifestyle modifications on the constipation relief, the time required to see the effects, and the effective lifestyles for constipation in older adults admitted to a geriatric hospital. Methods: Nonequivalent control group pre-post test design was used. The subjects consisted of 25 elderly in the control group and 23 in the experimental group. Constipation was measured with symptoms of constipation, number of bowel movement and use of laxatives. Life style modification consisted of drinking water before breakfast, having a breakfast, scheduled toileting after breakfast and walking everyday for 3 weeks. Results: Symptoms of constipation (t=2.23, p=.030) and number of bowel movement per week (t=-2.55, p=.014) were significantly different between two groups after 3 weeks. Drinking water, scheduled toileting and walking might contribute to the results. Conclusion: Lifestyle modification was effective on constipation in older adults admitted to a geriatric hospital. However, the effects were produced after 3 weeks. Nevertheless, it is recommended that nurses continuously encourage older adults for drinking water, regular trying for bowel movement and walking to relieve constipation, since the lifestyle modification does not need any special education and skill.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.315-325
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• 2006

Purpose: The Purpose of this study was to build up guidelines for preventing constipation in the Korean elderly based on the National Guideline $Clearinghouse^{TM}$ Guideline. Method: The process is composed of four steps: first. the composition of an expert group; second, the evaluation by the expert group about the appropriateness and applicability of each recommendation in the guideline; third, systematic literature review for evidence searching; and fourth. the formation of guidelines for Preventing constipation in the Korean elderly according to experts' opinions and literature review. Result: The appropriateness and applicability of each recommendation showed high scores, but the score of applicability was lower than that of appropriateness. The reasons for lower score of applicability were lack of cognition on the importance of constipation management and lack of recent information and evidence-based knowledge on constipation. There were some inadequate recommendations in Korean clinical setting. So the modified and replaced recommendations were added to the guidelines for preventing constipation in the old adult population to improve the applicability in Korea. Conclusion: The results of this study can be used as fundamental baseline data for future study to develope guidelines for management of constipation in the elderly and will be adapted locally for Korean clinical setting.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.637-645
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the occurrences and the factors contributing to constipation in the post surgical period following major orthopedic surgery. Methods: The sample included 133 patients who had surgery of the hip, knee, or spine. Patients were excluded from the study if there was a history of bowel surgery or constipation from chart review. Data were collected using questionnaires such as Korean version of Modified Barthel index (K-MBI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) before surgery and on the third postoperative day. Results: Reports of constipation occurred in 77 instances (57.9%). The first reported defecation was within $4.0{\pm}2.2days$ following surgery. Mean days of first defecation of constipation group vs. non-constipation group was $5.5{\pm}1.7days$ vs. $2.1{\pm}1.0days$. There were statistically significant differences between patients who reported than those who did not in terms of age, length of NPO period, postoperative ADL, and the reported incidents of preoperative and postoperative depressive symptoms. Postoperative ADL, age, and NPO period were significant influencing factors of constipation and explained 52.4% of the variance. Conclusion: Constipation is a very common symptom for patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. These results indicate a need for improving patient's ADL after surgery to prevent constipation.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was designed to evaluate the effects of oriental medical treatments on the patient with agitation accompanied constipation. Methods : One patient was admitted who was constipation, agitation, headache, chilling sign, thirst, heat, nausea, insomnia. The patient was diagnosed as constipation and agitation that was caused by heat in the heart and alimentary tract, and was treated with herb-medication, acupuncture, moxa therapy, anal therapy and aroma therapy for about 4 months. And then, we investigated and analyzed the clinical symptoms of the patient. Results : Most of all the clinical symptoms related with agitation accompanied constipation were improved gradually after oriental medical treatments. Conclusions : From the above results, it could be suggested that oriental medical treatments have good effects on agitation and constipation. And it will be necessary to extensively research and develop oriental medical treatments for this disease.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.1011-1017
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• 2016

The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of Maitland orthopedic manual therapy, Silver Spike Point, dietary fiber and gymnastic exercise on the improvement of constipation. Forty patients with constipation participated in the study (Maitland Orthopedic Manual Therapy Group(n=10), Silver Spike Point Therapy Group(n=10), Dietary Fiber Group(n=10) and Gymnastics Exercise Group(n=10)). The assessment scale and weekly bowel frequency were measured before and after the experiment. Assessment scale was significantly increased in Silver Spike Point Therapy, Maitland orthopedic therapy, gymnastic exercise compare to dietary fiber. Weekly bowel frequency was significantly increased in gymnastic exercise compared to dietary fiber. The results of this study suggest that Silver Spike Point Therapy, Maitland orthopedic therapy, gymnastic exercise improve the symptom in patients with constipation.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.72-80
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a constipation reduction program for inpatients. Method: Subjects were selected in one medical ward of C University Hospital from May, 2001 to November, 2001. Twenty-nine subjects were assigned to an experimental group and 32 subjects to a control group. Data related to the frequency of defecation and to the length and amount of laxative drugs used was collected by a medical record review and data on the degree of constipation was obtained by a self-report using a constipation assessment scale. Results: More than 90% of the subjects admitted in the department of neurology and one third of total subjects presented with activity limitation and about one fourth of the subjects were fed with a nasogastric tube. There was a significant difference in the degree of constipation, frequency of defecation, and the length and amount of laxative drug use between the two groups. Conclusion: This program is effective in inpatient's constipation reduction. Further studies need to apply this program in various clinical environments and properly use this program in different clinical settings.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.596-606
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• 2003

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develope and evaluate a constipation intervention program for inpatients. Method: To develope this program, Six phases were processed including the organization of team, the analysis of medical chart, the development of tentative constipation intervention program, the test of content validity, the test of clinical validity and the determination of final constipation intervention program. To evaluate the clinical validity of this program, 10 subjects who were in the C University Hospital were selected from March, 2001 to October, 2001. Result: The clinical validity was supplied by the pilot test, showing the potential effect of the program. Based on the validity results the final algorithm and the form of nursing record for this program which consist of the 3-step assessments and the intervention protocol were presented in this study. Conclusion: The advantage of this program is being able to assess and manage constipation simultaneously and is especially effective to patients who are at risk for developing constipation during their admission. Further study needs are also necessary to evaluate the effect of this program on the self-symptom of constipation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2014

Purpose: Constipation is a common pediatric problem worldwide. This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics of pediatric constipation in south Jordan according to gender and age group. Methods: All patients with constipation managed at our pediatric gastroenterology service between September 2009 and December 2012 were included. Hospital charts were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and final diagnosis were recorded. Data were analyzed according to gender and the following age groups: infants, pre-school, school age, and adolescents. Results: During the study period, 126 patients were enrolled. The number (percentage) of patients according to age were the following infants: 43 (34.1%), pre-school: 55 (43.7%), school age: 25 (19.8%), and adolescents: 3 (2.4%). Males made up 54.8% of the study population. There were no statistical gender differences in any age group. The most common symptom in all age groups was dry, hard stool. Infrequent defecation was found in almost one-half of the patients. Fecal incontinence was more common in school-aged children compared to pre-school-aged children and adolescents. Abdominal pain was seen in almost 40% of the constipated children. Abdominal pain was more prevalent in girls and older children. Fecal mass in the rectum was the most common physical finding, with constipated boys exhibiting higher rates. Functional constipation was the most common etiology. Conclusion: Clinical characteristics of constipation in children vary according to age group and gender. Older children had less frequent bowel motions, a longer duration of symptoms, and a higher prevalence of long-standing constipation compilations (fecal incontinence and abdominal pain).