The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy massage on constipation in the elderly.

This study for 10 day, employed a randomized control group pretest-posttest design. The experimental group received abdominal massage using essential oils with Rosemary, Lemon, and Peppermint, and the control group received a placebo massage. To evaluate the effect of aromatherapy, the degree of constipation was measured using the CAS(constipation assessment scale) and the number of bowel movements per week. Data was analyzed by repeated measures of ANOVA using the SPSS program.

The score of CAS of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. In addition the average number of bowel movements in the experimental group was higher than that of the control group. The effect of aromatherapy lasted 2 weeks after treatment, while the placebo effect lasted 7~10 days after treatment.

The finding of this study showed that aromatherapy helps relieve constipation in the elderly.

This study was aimed at developing an efficient nursing method for the management of constipation by comparing the effects of abdominal meridian massage on the symptoms of constipation.

The subjects were determined by the Rome II criteria and the Constipation Assessment Scale from Aug 30 through Sep 26, 2002. They were randomly divided into two groups: one experimental group of 16, another control group of 15. Abdominal meridian massage was given to the experimental group and no massage was given to the control group. The frequency of defecation and severity of constipation by CAS were measured. The data was analyzed with the t-test, χ²-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.

There was a significant improvement in frequency of defecation, and severity of constipation in the experimental group compared to the control group.

Abdominal meridian massage can be considered an effective nursing method for the management of constipation among CVA patients.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a constipation reduction program for inpatients.

Subjects were selected in one medical ward of C University Hospital from May, 2001 to November, 2001. Twenty-nine subjects were assigned to an experimental group and 32 subjects to a control group. Data related to the frequency of defecation and to the length and amount of laxative drugs used was collected by a medical record review and data on the degree of constipation was obtained by a self-report using a constipation assessment scale.

More than 90% of the subjects admitted in the department of neurology and one third of total subjects presented with activity limitation and about one fourth of the subjects were fed with a nasogastric tube. There was a significant difference in the degree of constipation, frequency of defecation, and the length and amount of laxative drug use between the two groups.

This program is effective in inpatient's constipation reduction. Further studies need to apply this program in various clinical environments and properly use this program in different clinical settings.

This study was done to evaluate the effects of 3 times/week and 5 times/week abdominal meridian massage with aroma oils (AMMAO) on the relief of constipation among hospitalized children with disabilities involving the brain lesions (cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and others).

The participants were 33 hospitalized children with a disability involving the brain (15 were in the 5 times/week of AMMAO group and 18 were in the 3 times/week of AMMAO group). Data were collected from March 21 to May 1, 2011. Chi-square test, t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA with SPSS 18.0 were used to evaluate the effects of AMMAO.

While there was no significant difference between the two groups, there was a significant difference within groups between baseline and the end of the intervention period for the following, frequency of suppository use or enemas, amount of stool, and number of bowel movements.

The results of this study indicate that AMMAO is an effective nursing intervention in relief of constipation for hospitalized children with a disability involving the brain. Therefore it is recommended that AMMAO be used in clinical practice as an effective nursing intervention for relief of constipation to these children.

This study was done to identify effects of carbonated water intake on constipation in elders who have experienced a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and are bed-ridden.

Forty elderly patients with CVA were randomly assigned to one of two groups in a double-blind study. Patients in the experimental group drank carbonated water and those in the control group drank tap water for two weeks. Six patients dropped out during the study period. Data were analyzed by repeated measured ANCOVA and the covariance was the dose of laxatives used for the two weeks.

Frequency of defecation increased significantly and symptoms of constipation decreased significantly for patients in the experimental group.

The study results suggest that the intake of carbonated water is an effective method for the intervention of constipation in elderly patients with CVA.

This study was done to compare the effects of abdominal aroma massage and meridian massage on constipation and stress in college women with functional constipation.

The participants were 38 college women, 18 were in the aroma group and 20 in the meridian group. The aroma massage was given using aroma oil which was a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosemary, and cyprus. The meridian massage was given at 9 accupoints which influence intestinal functions. The treatment was given 5 days a week for 4 weeks. A constipation severity score, weekly defecation frequency, and a stress response score were measured before and every week of 4 weeks of the experiment.

While there was no significant difference between two groups, there was a significant difference within the groups in the constipation severity (aroma group: 1st week, meridian group: except 4th week), defecation frequency (aroma group: 3rd week, meridian group: 2nd and 3rd week), and stress (aroma group: all weeks, meridian group: except 4th week) after different duration of experiment.

Based on these results, both abdominal massages relieved constipation and stress. Resorting to either types of massage will contribute to the reduction of use of stool softeners, suppositories, or enemas.