journal articles
EFFECTS OF A NUTRITION COUSELING ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN THE BRAZILIAN ELDERLIES: A PILOT STUDY
A.M. Cervato-Mancuso, M.M. Hernandes de Abreu de Oliveira Salgueiro
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2012;1(3):248-251
Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the effects of the nutritional counseling for elderly with functional constipation. Methods: The intervention study with two groups (intervention, n=21; and control, n=19) was conducted at school-hospital service. The intervention group received individual counseling by training nutritionist. The data was: age; Body Mass Index; social class; complaints about the intestinal habit; food intake; physical. The Fisher and the Mann-Whitney tests and the MacNemar and the Wilcoxon Sign tests were used. Results: It was observed that members of the intervention group reduced the number of complaints and the number of laxatives. An increase on the intake of fibers and liquids without altering the intake of a specific food group was also verified. Conclusion: It should also be highlighted that besides being individualized, the educational intervention based on the counseling theoretical model can decrease the symptomatology of functional intestinal constipation in elderly patients.