Determining the Prevalence of Constipation in the Elderly Receiving Institutional Care and Associated Factors

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to determine the prevalence of constipation in the elderly receiving institutional care and associated factors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytic study was conducted among 108 elderly patients in three institutional care centers in a city. Cognitive functioning of the elderly was screened through the Mini-Cog test and their levels of physical activity were gathered through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire – Short Form. Diagnosis of constipation was made according to Rome IV criteria. Parametric and non-parametric tests along with logistic regression analysis were utilized in data analysis. Results: The average age of the participants in the study is 74.16±7.51, 74.1% are female and 46.3% have been receiving institutional care for 2-4 years. It was found that 46.3% of the elderly have constipation and 72% used laxatives. 86% of the elderly in the study stated that they strain too hard during defecation, 86% told that they have hard stool, 72% explained they feel that they have a sensation of incomplete evacuation, 68% told they have a sensation of anorectal obstruction/blockage and 62% stated that they have to manually maneuver to facilitate defecation. It was determined that the prevalence of constipation is significantly higher among females, patients receiving institutional care for a year or less, physically inactive, patients who habitually delay defecation and also among the elderly who consume insufficient amounts of water (p