To read this content please select one of the options below:

Preventing and managing constipation in older inpatients

Christopher Nnaemeka Osuafor (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Sree Lakshmi Enduluri (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Emma Travers (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Anne Marie Bennett (Dietetics, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Elena Deveney (St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Shabahat Ali (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Frances McCarthy (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)
Chie Wei Fan (Medicine for the Elderly, St Mary’s Hospital, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland)

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance

ISSN: 0952-6862

Article publication date: 11 June 2018

1435

Abstract

Purpose

Constipation in hospitalised older adults leads to adverse events and prolonged stay. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to effectively prevent and manage constipation in older adults undergoing inpatient rehabilitation using a multidisciplinary war on constipation (WOC) algorithm.

Design/methodology/approach

A quality improvement project in older adults undergoing rehabilitation for prevention and constipation management was conducted. Quality improvement “plan-do-study-act” cycles included an initial constipation audit in the wards and meetings with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to develop an algorithm for the preventing, detecting and effectively treating constipation.

Findings

The project resulted in a 14 per cent reduction in constipation incidence after the newly developed WOC algorithm was introduced. The project also improved communication between patients and the MDT around patients’ bowel habits.

Practical implications

The project shows that using quality improvement methods in rehabilitation settings, earlier detection, earlier intervention and overall reduction in constipation in older adults can be achieved.

Originality/value

The WOC algorithm has been developed and institutionalised in the current setting. This algorithm may also be applicable in other inpatient settings.

Keywords

Citation

Osuafor, C.N., Enduluri, S.L., Travers, E., Bennett, A.M., Deveney, E., Ali, S., McCarthy, F. and Fan, C.W. (2018), "Preventing and managing constipation in older inpatients", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 31 No. 5, pp. 415-419. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-05-2017-0082

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles