The Effect of Su-Jok Therapy Applied to the Elderly on Constipation Symptoms and Quality of Life

This article discusses the prevalence and health implications of constipation in the elderly population. Health problems increase with age and negatively affect quality of life. Constipation is a common problem in the elderly that severely reduces quality of life and is associated with many factors. Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods are used for the management of constipation, but long-term use of pharmacologic treatments may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, non-pharmacologic approaches are gaining more importance.

In this context, Su Jok therapy, as an oriental medicine method, is a treatment method that aims to affect various organs of the body by using reflection points on the hands and feet. It is argued that Su Jok therapy can be beneficial in terms of symptom management and improving quality of life, especially in fields such as nursing and midwifery. In Turkey, there are no studies examining the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms. This project aims to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life, and the results are expected to contribute to the development of health services and treatment methods

With the increase in chronic diseases in the elderly population, millions of people need nursing home and home care. Changes in health status with advancing age negatively affect the quality of life of the elderly and the elderly face many complex health problems. One of the common problems in the elderly is constipation. Diet low in fiber or fluids, immobility, general pain or discomfort, local pain due to hemorrhoids or anal fissure, medical problems such as irritable bowel syndrome or Parkinson's disease, drug treatments such as analgesics, antidepressants, psychiatric disorders such as depression, stress and changes in the individual's life cause constipation. Constipation is defined as infrequent defecation or difficulty in emptying the stool. It is associated with various symptoms such as hard stools, straining, feeling of anorectal obstruction, feeling of inadequate emptying, prolonged defecation time, unsuccessful defecation attempts, abdominal pain and bloating.

In addition to serious health problems, constipation has a serious negative impact on the quality of life of individuals that cannot be ignored. It is important to monitor and treat constipation, which is an important health problem in the elderly because it decreases the quality of life, causes loss of energy, increases health care costs and leads to serious medical problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor constipation, to raise awareness about constipation in elderly individuals and to provide rapid treatment of constipation. Currently, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches are used in the management of constipation. In addition to medication (laxatives, suppositories, enemas), interventions such as biofeedback, acupressure, education, bowel habituation, exercise, yoga, aromatherapy, stress management and abdominal massage are generally utilized. Although the use of common pharmacological approaches in the management of constipation is effective in alleviating symptoms in the short term, long-term use of these agents may cause adverse effects such as diarrhea and metabolic disorders.

In addition, the fact that laxatives are costly and cause fluid, acid-base imbalance and electrolyte loss as a result of inappropriate use makes non-pharmacological methods necessary.

Su Jok therapy was developed by South Korean scientist Professor Woo Jae Woo (1942-2010) in 1986. In Korean, "Su" means hand and "Jok" means foot . In Su Jok therapy, it is argued that there are reflection points of the body in the hands and feet and that these points activate every organ and part of the body like a remote control.

Holistic approaches, energy flow and meridians form the basis of Su Jok therapy . Su Jok is an integrated therapy method that includes many tried and trusted methods of oriental medicine. In particular, it is similar in content to practices such as acupuncture and acupressure, which are approaches expressed by the same philosophy.

In the literature, it is argued that nurses can apply Su Jok therapy as an integrative method in symptom management for reasons such as the simplicity of the application of Su Jok therapy, which is similar to the philosophy of integrative nursing, the absence of any side effects and the absence of an interventional intervention. In our country, no study examining the effect of Su Jok Therapy on constipation symptoms has been found. In the study to be conducted within the scope of this project, it is aimed to determine the effect of Su Jok therapy on constipation symptoms and quality of life and to pioneer future research. The results obtained in the study in this project are thought to contribute significantly to the development of midwifery and nursing practices. When the data targeted in the study are reached, it is aimed to use Su Jok therapy as a non-pharmacological method in our country, and also to improve constipation symptoms and quality of life in preventive, curative and therapeutic health service provision.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Young individuals aged 65-74 years, middle-aged individuals aged 75-84 years and hospitalised individuals aged 85 years and over who agreed to participate in the study,
* Scores of 24 and above on the Mini Mental Test,
* Those who score 3 points and above on the Visual Comparison Scale,
* Those who meet the Rome IV Criteria,
* Elderly people aged 65 years and over who do not have any lesion, infection, etc. that would prevent the application of Su Jok treatment on the hands and feet, who do not have acute diarrhoea, who do not have significant intestinal pathology such as incontinence and faecal impaction, who do not have inflammatory bowel disease, who have not had bowel surgery before, who do not use laxatives during the application will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who do not fulfil the inclusion criteria,
* Patients with cognitive impairment such as dementia and Alzheimer's,
* Patients with hearing problems or using hearing aids,
* Older people who did not want to participate in the study.