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Background: Constipation is among the most frequently reported health problems in old-age people, with significant negative impacts on their health, and quality of life. Aim of study: The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of an abdominal massage learning package in relieving constipation among older adults. Setting: conducted in outpatient clinic beni-suef university hospitals & two Geriatric Social Clubs in Beni-Suef city. Subjects: on 100 older adults suffering from constipation in the setting. Method: A quasi-experimental study Tools: A structured interview questionnaire sheet was used to collect pre-post data concerning knowledge about constipation and reported practices of abdominal massage. The training program was implemented and its effectiveness after three months. Results: The sample had equal gender distribution. Satisfactory knowledge significantly improved from 53% to 98%, and adequate practice from 30% to 65% post-intervention (p<0.001). The problem of constipation showed significant improvement with 74% reporting relief at the post-intervention phase (p<0.001). The predictors of the relief of constipation were the practice score and the knowledge of the benefits of abdominal massage, Odds Ratios 1.66 and 1.58, respectively. Conclusion: Training older adults in abdominal massage technique is effective in relieving their constipation. Recommendations: The technique should be used in geriatric care in various community and healthcare settings. Further research is proposed to assess its effect on older adults’ quality of life.
Abozied et al. (2024) studied this question.