Abstract
Introduction
Constipation has a high prevalence of 30-40% in those aged over 65. It can lead to complications including delirium, faecal impaction, stercoral ulceration, and bowel obstruction. Although stool charts are used in geriatric wards to monitor bowel movements to guide management of constipation, they are often inconsistently recorded. Similarly, regular laxatives are often not prescribed for constipated patients due to ward pressures or unawareness regarding their importance.
Aims
Our aims were to audit the rates of recording on stool charts and laxative prescription in a geriatrics department, and to assess whether a multifactorial intervention aimed at both doctors and nursing staff improved these rates.
Methods
Two independent assessors audited the recording of stool charts, and rates of constipating medications and laxative prescription in two geriatrics wards in a tertiary UK hospital. A multifactorial intervention was implemented, consisting of didactic sessions for doctors and nurses, healthcare assistant champions to promote the recording of stool charts, and consolidation of bowel movement recording onto a single paper stool chart by the bedside rather than multiple charts. After the intervention, the data was re-audited on the same wards. Descriptive statistics and frequency tabulation were used for data analysis.
Results
Data was collected from 33 patients. Pre-intervention, stool charts were recorded daily in 13 patients, 10 patients had no stool chart record, 20 patients were on at least one constipating medication, 12 patients were prescribed at least one laxative, and 5 out of 7 patients with opiates had laxatives co-prescribed. Post-intervention, stool charts were recorded daily in 21 patients, all patients had a stool chart record, 20 patients were on at least one constipating medication, 23 patients were prescribed at least one laxative, and 2 out of 4 patients with opiates had laxatives co-prescribed. Our intervention improved daily recording on stool charts by 24%, resulted in all patients having a current stool chart and improved prescription of regular laxatives by 34%.
Conclusions
A multifactorial intervention based on educational sessions, healthcare assistants acting as champions, and consolidation of recording of bowel movements into a single chart, improved stool chart recording and prescription of regular laxatives in a tertiary geriatrics department. Future auditing will extend the sample size and generalise the intervention to other hospital departments.
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