• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.23-36
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data on dietary management of women's constipation. We estimated the prevalence of self reported constipation, bowel habits and foods & nutrients intake. The subjects were 169 female college students (normal = 92, constipation group = 77) aged 19 to 23 years. We conducted anthropometric measurements, an evacuation habits survey, and a dietary intake assessment for three days by a 24 hour recall method. The prevalence of self reported constipation was 46% (n = 77). Results showed that bowel habits (the difficulty of evacuation, the duration of evacuation and the feeling after evacuation) were significantly different between the two groups. Over 65% of constipation group used laxatives for constipation relief. Frequency of stress and deep sleeping were related with constipation. In daily food consumption and nutrients intake, there was not a significant difference between the groups. However in relation to bowel habits which factors influence constipation, the study showed that the intake of water, potatoes, kimchi, and fruits correlated with evacuation facility. Further, there were no findings in the difference of foods consumption and nutrients intake between the two groups. But some life style changes and food intakes (potato and kimchi) may be useful to improve constipation symptoms in young women.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.71-87
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of constipation, related factors of constipation of female high school students. Methods: The study subjects were 322 students of Y high schools located in a Suwon city, who were selected by the accidental sampling from November 2009. We analyzed the data by frequency analysis, Chi-square test, Logistic regression analysis using SPSS ver.12.0. Results: The results of this study were summarized as follows: A prevalence rate of self-reported constipation was 55.3%. From the Logistic analysis by self-reported method, leading causes of constipation on the students were drinking beverage, the less frequency of having meals, irregular time of having meals, not eating breakfast, insufficient exercise and not evacuating the bowels regularly. Conclusions: Based on these results, intervention to increase the amount of beverage constipation, intake of vegetable, regularity of taking meals, stress management should be provided to prevent the constipation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.702-713
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• 2009

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of constipation, bowel habits and nutrient intakes of college students. The subjects were 353 college students (166 males and 187 females) aged 19 to 29 years in Incheon area. The subjects were asked about bowel habits and dietary intake using questionnaires during march, 2008 and the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) was based on the Rome II criteria. The prevalence of FC in male and female students was 12.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported constipation in male and female students was 12.0% and 36.9%, respectively. Both were higher in female students compared to male students. Among the subjects that have self-reported constipation, proportions of FC were 35.0% in male students and 55.1% in female students. Of subjects that did not self-reported constipation, the proportions of FC were 9.6% in male students and 13.6% in female students. Over 90% of respondents that self-reported constipation in male students, had neither visited a hospital and nor used laxatives or functional foods for constipation relief. Seventy five point three percent of male students, and 40.1% of female students, had a defecation frequency of over 5 times per week (p < 0.001). Ratios intaken under the estimated average requirement (EAR) of Vit A, Vit C, folic acid and Ca were over the 50% regardless of functional constipation. Mean daily consumption of total dietary fiber was 15.0 g/day in male students and 13.5 g/day in female students. According to these results, both functional constipation and self-reported constipation are more frequent in female college students and further studies are required in case-control study and related to psychological factors as well as nutrients to relieve of constipation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.36-45
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary and lifestyle factors related to bowel pattern of female high school and college students in Gyeonggi Province. The total of 202 self-administered questionnaires (high school students 77 ; college students 125) were analyzed. All respondents were devided into four groups based on their self-reported pattern of defecation: 18 subjects ($9.0\%$) comprised the normal group, 73 ($36.1\%$) the constipation group, 73 ($36.1\%$) the constipation/diarrhea group, and 38 ($18.8\%$) the diarrhea group. Regularity of exercise was significantly higher in the college students than high school students, and times spending on a chair were longer in the high school students than college students. Most students ($72.7\%$) reported that they had stress. Fourty point six percent of the subjects reported that they had 3 meals per day, which tended to be higher in the normal and diarrhea group than constipation and constipation/ diarrhea group. Most students (69.7) skipped breakfast which was lower in the normal group than the other groups. The most preferred dietary fiber food was korean cabbage kimchi. Fifty-eight point four percent of the subjects reported that they had irregular bowel movement. Bowel movement was more irregular in the high school students than college students, and in the constipation group than the other groups. Of the subjects, $77.7\%$ had defecation frequency between three per week and three per day. Those who spent within 10 minutes for defecation were $79.6\%$, and those had difficulty in evacuating were $76.0\%$. High school students and those with constipation and constipation/diarrhea had a significantly lower defecation frequency, longer time spent at the toilet, and greater difficulty in evacuating than college students and normal and diarrhea group. The percentage of those who had feelings of residue in the intestine after defecation was $92.5\%$, and it was greater in the constipation or diarrhea group than in the normal group. Most students ($93.5\%$) reported that they had abdominal pain or discomfort. These results suggest that decreasing times spending on a chair, decreasing stress, keeping 3 meal per day at regular hours, and increasing dietary fiber intake are associated with desirable bowel pattern.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2005

Objectives: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate the status of bowel health behaviors, prevalence of constipation and risk factors related to self-reported constipation in high school students. Methods: The study subjects were 1,882 students of six high schools located in a metropolitan city, who were selected by the accidental sampling from June to August, 2002. We analyzed the data by frequency analysis, chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression using SPSS ver. 10.0. Results: The result of this study were summarized as follows: 1. A prevalence rate of self-reported constipation was 25.2%. A rate in male students was 13.4% and in female students 36.5%. 2. In regard to therapeutic behavior, 52.1% of study student with change in bowel habit had not find particular counsellor, 38.9% of the student had counselling with parents. 16.3% of students in constipation group had taken laxative medicine for treating the constipation. 73.5% of the student in constipation group had suffered from anal pain during defecation, but 48.0% in normal group. 41.6% of the student in constipation group had a experience of rectal bleeding after defecation, but 23.7% in normal group. So constipation related symptoms distribution had showed statistically significant difference between two group. 3. From the multivariate analysis by self-reported method, the risk factors related to the constipation were sex(female), experience of diet for weight reduction, absence of the breakfast and intake of vegetable more than 3 times per weeks. Conclusions: we had reconfirmed that we should improve eating habits to prevent and treat the constipation in a result of this study. Intervention that is target to girl students, abstain from weight reduction diet, regularity of taking meals, intake more vegetables, stress management should be provided to prevent the constipation especially in Korean high school students. Further prospective designed study are needed to establish the causal-effect relationship between so many risk factors with constipation.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.426-438
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine bowel habits, dietary habits, and nutrient intake of constipated adults, and the effects of prune products on relieving constipation symptoms. Fifty one adults with self-reported constipation (mean age 23 years, range 19-41 years, 10 males and 41 females) participated in this study. After a baseline survey on bowel habits and dietuy habits, participants were asked to consume at least 50 g of prune and 200 ml of prune juice per day during a 4-week period in addition to usual diet. Nutrient intake was estimated by a 24 hour recall at the baseline and once every week by diet records during the intervention. Data were analyzed after classifying the subjects into mild constipation group and severe constipation group by the severity of the symptoms. During the intervention, the subjects with mild constipation consumed 56 g of prunes (about 5.6 fruits) and 200 ml of prune juice, and the subjects with severe constipation consumed 59 g of prunes (about 5.9 fruits) and 207 ml of prune juice. Average intakes of energy, dietary fiber and water of the subjects in the mild constipation and severe constipation group increased during the intervention compared to the baseline. Average dietary fiber intake of the mild constipation and severe constipation groups significantly increased from 12.5 g and 11.6 g at the baseline to 18.5 g and 16.8 g after consuming prune products, respectively. These changes were accompanied by an increase in the number of bowel movements, a decrease of defecation time, a change to a softer stool consistency, and a decrease of abdominal pain during defecation. Seventy two subjects answered that prune products were effective to improve their overall constipation symptoms. Our data show that supplementation of prune products is effective to provide energy, dietary fiber and water, and to relieve constipation symptoms for constipated adults.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2022

Background: Although insomnia and constipation are highly prevalent worldwide, studies examining a possible association between them are lacking. We examined the relationship between insomnia and constipation in shift workers who have a high prevalence of insomnia and other diseases. Methods: This study had a multicenter cross-sectional design and conducted using health examination data including self-reported questionnaires. In total, 12,879 and 4,650 shift workers were enrolled in Severance Hospital and Wonju Severance Hospital, respectively, during 2015-2017. Multivariate logistic regression models and subgroup analysis were performed in each center with the same protocol, using a common data model. Results: The mean age of the total population was 44.35 (standard deviation = 8.75); the proportion of males was 56.9%. Female sex, being underweight and non-smoker were strongly associated with an increased risk of constipation symptom (p < 0.001). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using ORs of both centers with weights; there was a significant dose-response relationship (sub-threshold 1.76 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62-1.91]; moderate 2.28 [95% CI 2.01-2.60]; severe 4.15 [95% CI 3.18-5.41] in the final model, p for trend < 0.001). Subgroup analysis performed by stratifying sex and pooled ORs showed a similar trend to that of the entire group. Conclusion: We observed a strong correlation between insomnia and constipation in this population. Our findings may help in formulating guidelines and policies to improve quality of life in shift workers through the management of sleep quality and proper bowel function. This study is the first to report this relationship among people working in shifts.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.306-313
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of study was to explore the frequency of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) among female university students and identify self-esteem, depression, and physical health. Method: The secondary analysis was performed. A total 401 university female students were recruited from 1 university in Korea. IBS was diagnosed based on the Rome III criteria. The questionnaires included Rosenberg's self-esteem scale, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression(CESD) scale, and physical health questionnaire developed by Lee. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS Win 15.0 statistics program using frequencies, percentages, ANOVA, and the Pearson's correlations of the variables. Result: The frequency of IBS was 26.7% in students. All women had mixed constipation and diarrhea subtype of IBS. Compared to the women without IBS, those with IBS reported significantly lower scores on self-esteem and higher scores of CESD and on the physical health questionnaire. Conclusion: Nursing interventions targeting female students with IBS should be developed in order to reduce the depression and physical health problem and improve self-esteem.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.196-206
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of urinary incontinence, it's relating factors and the level of self-esteem in women. Subject of this study consisted of 153 in the age of 30-55 years old living in around Iksan. The date were collected from March, 1998 to June, 1998 with interview using structured questionare and were analysed with SPSS program. The results were as follows : 1) The prevalence of urinary incontinence is 85%. The most common amount of urinary incontinence was somewhat small expressed as 'wetting their panty' 2) The common factors related to the urinary incontinence were coughing, sneezing, laughing loudly, the activities of need for hurry and constipation. The older, the more incidence of urinary incontinence were reported. 3) Only 50% of epsodic urinary incontinence were treated and they wanted to try the herb medicine(64%), taking medicine(8%) and exercise(3%). 4) There was significant between self-esteem and urinary incontinence (T=13.83, p=.000), but between degree of urinary incontinence and self-esteem were not significant(F=.71, p=.55). In conclusion, urinary incontinence will be very serious health problem as aging so that it's Important to provide nursing intervention to prevent and be well. It need to support psychological care, too.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of weight loss in Korean Medicine (KM) obesity treatment combined with self-monitoring and to identify the relevant factors which are related to successful weight loss. In addition to this, adverse events reported by the patients were analyzed to assess the safety of KM treatments for obesity Methods: This was a retrospective observational study that analyzed the medical records of the patients that participated in the 10-week of KM treatment. All patients took herbal medicine for weight loss and were instructed to reduce calorie intake and adhere to self-monitoring. Clinical data including body weight were collected for evaluating the effect of the treatments. Behavior factors affecting weight loss were collected. The correlation between each factor and weight loss was analyzed. Adverse events (AEs) were collected at each time to evaluate the safety of the intervention. Results: One hundred eighteen patients' records were included in this study. The average weight loss was 7.64kg(74.59kg to 66.95kg). 94.9% of patients lost 5% or more of their initial weight. The degree of weight loss was identified to be related to self-assessment of diet control and self-assessment of appetite control. The average self-weighing frequency significantly increased(2.45 times/week before treatment and 4.70 times/weeks during treatment). Constipation, insomnia, and dizziness were found to be the most frequent AEs, and except for one case, most AEs were mild cases. Conclusion: From this study, we found that KM obesity treatment combined with self-monitoring showed significant weight loss without serious AE.