Constipation prevalence and Related Risk Factors among Orthopedic Patients

Background & purpose: Risk factors of constipation have not yet been wholly clarified among patients with fractures, especially in Egypt. Therefore, this study designed to investigate the prevalence of constipation and its related risk factors among orthopedic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional design with a purposive sample of 150 patients was used to conduct this study. Three questionnaires were administered: (A) demographic and medical history sheet; (B) Bristol Stool Scale; and (C) Constipation Risk Assessment Scale. Results: The patients mean age was 39.5 ± 10.6 years. Patients were at moderate risk for constipation with average scores of 12.9 ± 4.1. Multivariable logistic regression was established to identify constipation factors as follow: length of hospital stay (odds ratio [ORa]= .248, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .129-.475), previous constipation history (ORa= 4.566, 95% CI: 1.213-17.190), difficulty in bowel excretion in hospital (ORa= 2.028, 95% CI: 1.068-3.849), colorectal/abdominal diseases (ORa= .639, 95% CI: .416-.980), and Iron supplementation (ORa= 1.703, 95% CI: .952-3.046), were the risks that could significantly predict occurrence of constipation among orthopedic patients. Conclusion/Implications for Practice. This study concluded that frequency of constipation was low among orthopedic patients. However, many risks remarkably predicted susceptibility to having constipation, Nurses must take the identified risk factors seriously into consideration during assessing and caring for orthopedic patients. Evidence-based nursing interventions must be designed to control the adverse effects of these risks on bowel function.