Severity of fecal incontinence in community-living elderly in a health maintenance organization

An anonymous survey containing questions about the severity of fecal incontinence (FI)—frequency, amount, and type—and its correlates was distributed to community‐living elderly at four managed‐care clinics. Completed surveys were received from 1,352 respondents whose mean (±standard deviation) age...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Research in nursing & health 2004-06, Vol.27 (3), p.162-173
Main Authors: Bliss, Donna Zimmaro, Fischer, Lucy Rose, Savik, Kay, Avery, Melissa, Mark, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
elderly
Fecal Incontinence - classification
Fecal Incontinence - epidemiology
Feces
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Geriatrics
Health Maintenance Organizations
Health Surveys
Humans
incontinence
Male
Medical disorders
Medical sciences
Minnesota - epidemiology
Nursing
Older people
Other diseases. Semiology
Prevalence
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Severity of Illness Index
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
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Summary:An anonymous survey containing questions about the severity of fecal incontinence (FI)—frequency, amount, and type—and its correlates was distributed to community‐living elderly at four managed‐care clinics. Completed surveys were received from 1,352 respondents whose mean (±standard deviation) age was 75 ± 6 years and 60% of whom were female. Approximately 19% reported having FI one or more times within the past year. Incontinence that soiled underwear or was of loose or liquid consistency was most common. More frequent FI and a greater amount of FI were significantly associated with loose or liquid stool consistency, defecation urgency, bowel surgery, and chronic health conditions. Therapies aimed at normalizing stool consistency or reducing urgency may be beneficial in lessening FI severity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:162–173, 2004
ISSN:0160-6891
1098-240X
DOI:10.1002/nur.20014