Managing fecal incontinence: self-care practices of older adults.
Little is known about the ways in which community-dwelling elderly individuals manage fecal incontinence (FI) in their daily lives. In this study, community-dwelling elderly individuals were surveyed at clinics of a health maintenance organization (HMO) to describe the self-care practices used to manage FI and to examine factors that influenced the number of self-care practices used and the reporting of FI to a health care practitioner. Responses of 242 elderly individuals who reported that they had FI several times per year were analyzed. The self-care practices used most commonly were changing diet, wearing a sanitary pad/brief, and reducing activity or exercise. Elderly women and those with a greater severity of FI and more chronic health problems engaged in more self-care practices. Factors associated with reporting FI to a clinician were considering FI to be a problem, uncertainty about the cause of FI, and changing diet to avoid FI. There is a need to promote effective management strategies for FI to older individuals living in the community.
Bliss
Donna Zimmaro
DZ
University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Fischer
Lucy Rose
LR
Savik
Kay
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D041382:Diapers, Adult / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*