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Quality of life amongst people over 65 years of age : does constipation make a difference?
conference contribution
posted on 2001-01-01, 00:00 authored by Wendy HunterWendy Hunter, Gwyn Jones, H Devereux, Damien JolleyAims
The aims of this study was to determine whether quality of life for people 65 years and over is affected by constipation and laxative use and to identify dimensions or functions of quality of life that were specifically affected by constipation.
Method
Of the 79 subjects who completed the pre-screening questionnaire to determine their bowel function and laxative use status , 58 agreed to participate in the phase of the study (73%) of which 22 were females and 36 were males. Subjects completed a quality of life questionnaire, comprising of ComQoL questions and SF36 questions during a face to face interview conducted in their own homes.
Results
ComQoL importance and satisfaction scores were compared by bowel health status and gender. The most important dimensions for all subjects were health (mean score 9.4), family (mean score 9.3) and their own happiness (mean score 8.7). The total mean for satisfaction score for the whole group was 69%, fractionally lower that the bottom end of the normative range (70-80%). Constipated subjects scored satisfaction with their health significantly lower than the not constipated group (p =0.02) and subjects who took laxatives once a fortnight or more also had significantly lower satisfaction with their health (p=0.03).
Conclusion
Overall the subjects reported a high level of satisfaction with their lives, constipation and laxative use affected their satisfaction with their health. Further exploration is needed to determine how this will affect lifestyle and health behaviours.
The aims of this study was to determine whether quality of life for people 65 years and over is affected by constipation and laxative use and to identify dimensions or functions of quality of life that were specifically affected by constipation.
Method
Of the 79 subjects who completed the pre-screening questionnaire to determine their bowel function and laxative use status , 58 agreed to participate in the phase of the study (73%) of which 22 were females and 36 were males. Subjects completed a quality of life questionnaire, comprising of ComQoL questions and SF36 questions during a face to face interview conducted in their own homes.
Results
ComQoL importance and satisfaction scores were compared by bowel health status and gender. The most important dimensions for all subjects were health (mean score 9.4), family (mean score 9.3) and their own happiness (mean score 8.7). The total mean for satisfaction score for the whole group was 69%, fractionally lower that the bottom end of the normative range (70-80%). Constipated subjects scored satisfaction with their health significantly lower than the not constipated group (p =0.02) and subjects who took laxatives once a fortnight or more also had significantly lower satisfaction with their health (p=0.03).
Conclusion
Overall the subjects reported a high level of satisfaction with their lives, constipation and laxative use affected their satisfaction with their health. Further exploration is needed to determine how this will affect lifestyle and health behaviours.
