The Effects of Abdominal Massage and Bowel Recipe for the Relief of Constipation Among Residents in a Care and Attention Home for Persons with Physical Disability in Hong Kong

Wong, Kar Yan Alice

Tuesday, 23 July 2013: 4:10 PM

Kar Yan Alice Wong, RN, PhD
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify client with bowel problem whether abdominal massage is suitable to be an alternative intervention for managing their constipation.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to identify non-medical measures that faciliate fecal elimination.

Purpose: Constipation, defined as having a bowel movement less than three times a week (ROM III Criteria), is a common problem. A growing proportion of disabled residents on anti-seizure medications are living longer yet the routine care in using laxatives to relieve constipation can no longer be effective after prolonged use. Therefore, non-invasive abdominal massage and high fiber dietary supplements interventions were introduced.

Methods: This study aimed to increase the quality of care by early identification of constipation cases with abdominal massage treatment. Baseline data on bowel and dietary habits were collected from 196 residents. The prevalence of constipation was 21.4% (n=42). Data collection related to stool consistency, stool frequency and laxative use were collected over 18 weeks study period on 30 clients recruited based on inclusion criteria.

Results: Inclusion of bowel recipe in diet has shown some improvement in constipation management. No significant change was noted in bowel frequency except subjective expression of shortened time to defecation and also increased fruit and vegetable consumption due to increase awareness.

Conclusion: This health promotion program prepared frontline workers to be equipped with skills learned during the abdominal massage workshop to apply the skills at point of care when needs are identified. Abdominal massage had also facilitated more interactions between residents and their family.

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