• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.597-606
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• 2016

This is descriptive research to understand the constipation rate of elementary school students due to their differences in cognition of their eating habits, hours of exercise/physical activity, stress, and school restroom environment in accordance with the matter of constipation, as well as the factors related to the constipation rate. A total of 741 students (grade3-6) from six elementary schools in Jeollanam-do were targeted; the survey was conducted from April 30th to May 12th, 2014. The frequency, percentage, ${\chi}^2$ test, independent t-test, and bivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. The constipation rate was 23.9%, and there were factors related to the constipation rate, such as restroom preference, matter of defecation during breaks, number of meals per day, number of breakfasts skipped, size of the meal, hours of institute class, hours of internet use, stress, and cognition of school restroom environment. In particular, students with 'high' stress had a 5.44 times higher rate of constipation than students with 'low' stress. As subjective symptoms are limited in diagnosing constipation, a detailed medical examination and physical checkup should be included in the process of understanding the constipation rate, as well as in education and management to prevent elementary school students from having constipation.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.423-431
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• 2014

Korean, and identified the correlation of a constipation with life style, heat and cold symptoms, stress and life quality of them. We also identified the relationships of the constipation with stress and life quality. A Survey was conducted from April 23, 2010 to October 25, 2010 for 464 women and the collected data was analyzed with computer software of SPSS 19.0. In the result, the constipation group appealed for cold stomach(p=.008), dyspepsia(p=.006), and tiredness(p=.001). more often than the normal group. The constipation group experienced Dreaming(p=.003), light sleeping(p=.007) and a trouble in sleeping(p=.001) more often, which impaired the quality of sleeping. Compared to the normal group, the constipation group also showed a tendency of high stress and low life quality. Based on the results, all the factors of heat and cold symptom, life style, stress and life quality should be considered when developing medications for the prevention and improvement of constipation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.101-112
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• 2009

Objectives : This comparative study aimed to identify the effect of the Buddeumi(cupping-and-moxibustion device) therapy and moxibustion-only therapy on treating constipation of stroke patients who were admitted in the hospital of oriental medicine. The research design was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Methods : The subjects of the study consisted of 23 stroke patients, and they were divided into two groups : one was the experimental group of 11 patients and the other was the control group of 12 patients. The Buddeumi therapy and the moxibustion-only therapy were given respectively. Each Buddeumi and moxibustion-only therapies on the 天樞(ST25, right & left) in abdomen were administered to the each group for 40 minutes a total at 10 times. The posttest included the frequency of defecation with the Constipation Assessment Scale every day for one week after the experiment. The data were analyzed by the $x^2$ test, t-test, Fisher exact test, and repeated measures ANCOVA using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results : The results were as follows : First, Hypothesis 1 : 'The patients who are given the Buddeumi therapy in the experimental group have a lower Constipation Assessment Scale than the control group.' was supported(F=4.367, P=0.049). Second, Hypothesis 2 : 'The patients who are given meridian acupressure in the experimental group have a higher frequency of defecation per week than the control group.' was supported(F=0.947, P=0.034). Accordingly, 'The patients who are given the Buddeumi therapy in experimental group have a higher effect on constipation than the control group.' was supported. Conclusion : The Buddeumi therapy reduced the constipation assessment scale of stroke patients and increased the frequency of their defacation per week. Therefore, the Buddeumi therapy could be an effective treatment for constipation of stroke patients.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-214
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• 2012

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop the constipation assessment tool for identifying their bowel movement patterns, and to provide basic information for the assessment and intervention protocol on constipation for patients with terminal cancers. Methods: The study followed the steps: the first step was to build a conceptual framework based on literature review; the second step was to develop a tentative instrument by analyzing the conceptual framework and existing instruments; the third step was to test content validity and reliability; and the final step was to apply the tool to patients with terminal cancers (N=112). Results: The constipation assessment tool was consisted of total nine items; under the categories of subjective and objective data for diagnosis had 4 items, and under the initial assessment category which includes stool type, physical examination, and abdomen X-ray had 5 items. Conclusion: The constipation assessment tool developed in this study is very easy to use and useful in nursing practice, especially in hospice and palliative care setting. Particularly this tool has items on patient assessment which would be considered as an evidence for choosing nursing interventions. Based on the constipation assessment tool, the development and application of intervention protocol on constipation for patients with terminal cancers is warranted in future research.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.208-217
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of abdominal massage or oral lactic acid fermented milk to prevent constipation in patients immobilized after spinal surgery. Methods: Participants were 60 patients who underwent spinal surgery (20 in the abdominal massage group, 20 in the lactic acid group, and 20 in the control group). Preoperative constipation was assessed and after starting to eat following surgery, patients were given abdominal massage or lactic acid fermented milk for three days. Then bowel movements were checked using the constipation assessment scale and enemas. Results: Constipation score in the control group without treatment increased from $4.85{\pm}4.73$ to $10.25{\pm}4.28$ whereas, in the abdominal massage group or lactic acid group, the scores decreased from $6.40{\pm}3.71$ to $5.23{\pm}3.43$ and from $5.25{\pm}3.78$ to $4.50{\pm}3.18$ respectively. Also, enemas were given for 15 of 20 in the control group but only 7 of 20 in the abdominal massage group and 4 of 20 in lactic acid group. Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that abdominal massage or lactic acid fermented milk to alleviate constipation in patients with immobility following spinal surgery is highly effective according to the constipation score and need for enemas.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.127-137
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• 2008

Objectives : These days, herbal acupuncture therapy is widely applied to many diseases and symptoms by Korean medical doctors in Korea. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the effect of Carthami-Semen herbal acupuncture(CSHA) on chronic constipation. Methods : This single-blind placebo-controlled randomized parellel study enrolled 24 adults with chronic constipation. After one week's run-in period, they were randomly assigned to receive CSHA therapy, or placebo therapy for 4 weeks by 2 times per week. After completing 4 week's therapy, 2 week's follow-up period was continued. During study, defecation frequency, consistency and ease of evacuation were checked before study, every week and follow-up periods. Also, the VAS of constipation, quality of life(QoL) and heart rate variability(HRV : low frequency, high frequency) were checked 3 times totally. Finally, 21 subjects completed the protocol and 20 subjects were analyzed.(1 subject is excluded for analysis because of not following the protocol.) Results : In CSHA group, defecation frequency(continued after 1 week), consistency and ease of evacuation(at 1 week after and follow-up) were increased significantly. The VAS of constipation in CSHA group was significantly decreased. There was no significant change at QoL and HRV. Conclusions : CSHA therapy was effective in treating adults with chronic constipation. Study that have larger case number and longer follow up will be needed in the future.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.689-699
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• 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of auricular acupressure on constipation and depression in shift-work nurses. The data was collected from May to June 2021 at A hospital in area I, and 40 nurses working in shifts participated in this study. This study was an open-label randomized controlled trial. 40 nurses who had constipation were randomized to the experimental group (n=20) or control group (n=20). Auricular acupressure was performed for 2 weeks at the corresponding points of constipation and depression for the experimental group. Auricular acupressure for 2 weeks significantly decreased constipation scores compared to the control group (F=7.74, p<.001). The mean difference in depression scores before and after acupressure in the experimental group (2.90±2.86) was larger than the difference in the control group (1.35±3.12), but it was not statistically significant (t=-1.64, p=.055). Auricular acupressure was effective in relieving constipation in shift-work nurses. Auricular acupressure could be considered as a treatment option for constipation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.178-203
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• 2024

Constipation, which refers to difficulties in defecation and infrequent bowel movement in emptying the gastrointestinal system that ultimately produces hardened fecal matters, is a health concern in livestock and aging animals. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential effects of dairy-isolated lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains to alleviate constipation as an alternative therapeutic intervention for constipation treatment in the aging model. Rats were aged via daily subcutaneous injection of D-galactose (600 mg/body weight [kg]), prior to induction of constipation via oral administration of loperamide hydrochloride (5 mg/body weight [kg]). LAB strains (L. fermentum USM 4189 or L. plantarum USM 4187) were administered daily via oral gavage (1 × 10 Log CFU/day) while the control group received sterile saline. Aged rats as shown with shorter telomere lengths exhibited increased fecal bulk and soften fecal upon administration of LAB strains amid constipation as observed using the Bristol Stool Chart, accompanied by a higher fecal moisture content as compared to the control (p < 0.05). Fecal water-soluble metabolite profiles showed a reduced concentration of threonine upon administration of LAB strains compared to the control (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis also showed that the administration of LAB strains contributed to a higher colonic goblet cell count as compared to the control (p < 0.05). The present study illustrates the potential of dairy-sourced LAB strains as probiotics to ameliorate the adverse effect of constipation amid aging, and as a potential dietary intervention strategy for dairy foods including yogurt and cheese.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Coexisting voiding and bowel dysfunction in children are common in the clinic. The idea that overactive bladder (OAB) and constipation arise from one single pathophysiology has been reinforced in many studies. In Korea, a nationwide multicenter study conducted in 2009 showed that overall prevalence of OAB in children, 5-13 years of age, was 16.59% and this number has increased more recently. The initial step to manage coexisting fecal retention and OAB in children is to characterize their bowel and bladder habits and to treat constipation if present. Although diagnosing constipation in children is difficult, careful history-taking using the Bristol Stool Form Scale, and a scoring system of plain abdominal radiography, can help to estimate fecal retention more easily and promptly. Non-pharmacological approaches to manage functional constipation include increasing fluids, fiber intake, and physical activity. Several osmotic laxatives are also effective in improving OAB symptoms and fecal retention. Additionally, correction and education in relation to toilet training is the most important measure in treating OAB with fecal retention.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.423-426
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• 2013

Females are more often affected by constipation than males, especially during pregnancy, which is related to the menstrual cycle. Although still controversial, alterations of progesterone and estrogen may be responsible. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to determine whether the female sex steroid hormone itself is responsible for development of constipation in both female and male mice. Administration of estrogen resulted in a decrease in weight of accumulated feces on days 2, 3, 4, and 5 in male mice and on day 5 in female mice, compared with the control group, but progesterone administration did not. Administration of estrogen resulted in a decrease in gastrointestinal movement, compared to normal; however, no significant change was observed by administration of progesterone. In conclusion, estrogen, rather than progesterone, may be a detrimental factor of constipation via decreased bowel movement in mice.