Determining the Constipation Status and Associated Factors in the Elderly People Receiving Institutional Care

Abstract

Objective: The study aims to determine the constipation status and associated factors in elderly people receiving institutional care. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytic research was conducted with 108 elderly people in three institutional care centers in a province in Türkiye. Data were collected with the Individual Characteristics Form, the Mini-Cog© test, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form. Diagnosis of constipation was made according to the Rome IV criteria. Results: The average age of the participants was 74.16±7.51, 74.1% were female, and 46.3% were receiving institutional care for 2-4 years. It was found that 46.3% of the elderly had constipation and 72% were using laxatives. The prevalence of constipation was found to be statistically significantly higher among females, elderly people receiving institutional care for one year or less, physically inactive elderly who habitually delay defecation and elderly people who consume insufficient amounts of water (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of the study revealed that one out of the two elderly people suffers from constipation. Thus, preventive care interventions such as diet and exercise programs, and exercises for bowel habits must be applied by determining the risk factors of constipation in elderly people.