Acupressure for Constipation in the Elderly

The study is a qualitative and quantitative mixed method, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, pretest-posttest control group study. In this study; a total of 81 elderly individuals over the age of 65 and diagnosed with constipation in a family health center were included, 41 individuals in the acupressure group and 40 individuals in the placebo control group. Ethics committee approval, informed voluntary consent of the elderly and all other necessary permissions to conduct the study were obtained before the study.

The data of the study were collected using the Individual Identification Form, the Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS), the Constipation Quality of Life Scale (PAC-QOL), the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Individual Follow-up Form and the Semi-Structured Interview Form. Acupressure was applied to individuals in the acupressure group every day for 12 days, and placebo acupressure was applied to individuals in the placebo acupressure group at the same time and in line with the same protocol. In addition, individual in-depth interviews were conducted with the individuals in the acupressure group after the applications were completed.

Quantitative data were evaluated using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows 24.0 package program. In the evaluation of quantitative data; Independent groups t test / Mann Whitney U test, dependent groups t-test, two-way mixed pattern ANOVA, multiple regression analysis (enter method) were used and p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant. In the evaluation of qualitative data, descriptive and content analysis methods were used.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 65 and over,
• Able to answer cognitive questions
• Able to do daily tasks unaided
• Experiencing two or more of the Rome IV criteria

Exclusion criteria

• Communication and adaptation difficulties,
• Malignant, intestinal obstruction, fecal incontinence, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal infection, etc. have a contraindication to continue the intervention, addicted to bed
• Chronic pain requiring long-term analgesic intake and using psychiatric medication,