Development of a constipation care algorithm using pocket-sized echography for elderly patients with dementia

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19711
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: Health Sciences University of Hokkaido
• Principal Investigator: YOKOKAWA Akiko 北海道医療大学, 看護福祉学部, 助教 (30708772)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 認知症高齢者 / 便秘 / 看護師 / アセスメント / アルゴリズム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research was performed to develop a care algorithm for constipation using pocket-sized echography for elderly patients with dementia. For the development of this algorithm, we examined collected echographic images of the rectum and data on discharged feces, and confirmed that the properties and amount of feces could be estimated with relatively high accuracy. Next, we used a qualitative descriptive method to clarify how nurses assessed constipation in elderly patients with dementia and then determined appropriate methods to support excretion. Based on the results of examinations of assessment and support methods employed by nurses and the analysis on echographic images of the rectum, we developed an algorithm for constipation care using pocket-sized echography.

Free Research Field

基礎看護学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は，認知症高齢者の便秘の判断や援助方法を決定する際の一助となる．アルゴリズムを活用することにより，直腸内の便を迅速・確実に発見し，認知症高齢者の便秘をいち早く取り除く援助を選択することを可能とする.このことは，便秘の悪化や持続に伴う身体的，心理的影響を最小限にすることにつながる.