Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Original Articles

The Prevalence of Defecation Difficulty and Bowel Habits in University Students: You Joung Kim, Deok Jin Ban; Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2002;32(7):1009-1016. Published online March 29, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2002.32.7.1009

Abstract PDF: To determine bowel patterns and the prevalence of defecation difficulty in young university students, we administered a self-reported questionnaire to 1,617 college students about their bowel habits and eating patterns and obtained the following: 83.7% showed defecation frequency between 2 times per day and 3 times per week, and 33.4% reported difficulty in defecation. Among the subjects with defecation difficulty, 69% complained of constipation and 31% of diarrhea. It was also shown that the prevalence of self-reported defecation difficulty varied by sex. Women were more likely to have defecation difficulty than men (OR=2.5; 95% CI: 2.005-3.149). There were also differences between men and women in respect to the bowel habits (frequency, regularity, thickness, volume, form and time required) and food preferences. Men reported a higher frequency of defecation than women (p<.001). The dietary fiber intake volume of the subjects with defecation difficulty was smaller than subjects without the problem (OR=0.83, CI; 0.706-0.978). Moreover, those whose favorite food was meat were more likely to have defecation difficulty than those preferred vegetables (OR=1.39; 95% CI: 1.058-1.820). Irregular defecation was reported in 44.5% of the students, especially non-residents of Cheolla province (OR=1.2; 95% CI: 1.007-1.480). Non-residents ate dietary fiber significantly less than residents and there were some differences in diet habits and also in bowel habits.

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Impact of Bowel Function, Anxiety and Depression on Quality of Life in Patients with Sphincter-preserving Resection for Rectal Cancer: Hyun Jun Kwoun, Yun Hee Shin; J Korean Acad Nurs 2015;45(5):733-741. Published online October 30, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2015.45.5.733

Abstract PDF: Purpose
This study was a descriptive survey research to identify the impact of bowel function, anxiety and depression on quality of life in patients with rectal cancer who had a sphincter-preserving resection.
Methods
articipants were 100 patients who had rectal cancer surgery at W hospital in Korea. Bowel function, anxiety & depression, and quality of life were measured using the BFI (Bowel Function Instrument), HADS (Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale) and the FACT-C (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal).
Results
The mean scores were 39.81±5.16 for bowel function, 6.15±3.25 for anxiety, 7.24±3.13 for depression, and 72.50±13.27 for quality of life. There were significant negative correlations between quality of life and anxiety (r= -.59, p <.001) and between quality of life and depression (r= -.53, p <.001). But the correlation between quality of life and bowel function was significantly positive (r=.22, p =.025). The influence of the independent variables on the total quality of life was examined using multiple regression analysis. Anxiety (β= -.38, p =.002), bowel function (β= -.25, p =.028) and occupation (β=.16, p =.048) were identified as factors affecting quality of life. The explanation power of this regression model was 44% and it was statistically significant (F=16.53, p <.001).
Conclusion
The results of this study indicate that in order to improve the bowel function of patients after sphincter-preserving resection for rectal cancer, effective nursing interventions should be developed. As psychological problem such as anxiety and depression can relate to quality of life for these patients, nurses should work on improving the situation by providing continuous emotional nursing.

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