الفهرس 
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Abstract
Considering an increase in life expectancy leading to a rise in the elderly population, it is important to recognize the changes that occur along the process of aging. Gastrointestinal (GI) changes in the elderly are common, and despite some GI disorders being more prevalent in the elderly, no GI disease is limited to this age group. While some changes associated with the aging GI system are physiologic, others are pathological and particularly more prevalent among those above age 65 years We highlight age-related changes of the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small and large bowels, and the clinical implications of these changes (Dumic,2019).
Aim of the study
This study aimed to assess gastrointestinal health problems among older adults through:
Assessing gastrointestinal health problems among older adults.
Assessing knowledge of older adults about gastrointestinal problems.
Assessing reported practices of older adults toward gastrointestinal problems.
Research questions
What are gastrointestinal health problems among older adults?
What is the older adults’ knowledge about gastrointestinal health problems among older adults?
What are the older adults’ reported practices toward gastrointestinal health problems among older adults?
Is there a relation between older adults’ socio-demographic characteristics and their knowledge about their gastrointestinal problems?
Is there a relation between older adult knowledge and their practices toward gastrointestinal health problems?
Research design:
The present study is A descriptive study.
Research setting:
This study was conducted at geriatric units (Daily care unit) Of Alshahid ’Ahmad Shawky Hospital for older adults in Eldemerdash Hospital affiliated with Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo governorate, older adults were interviewed over two days a week, on Sunday and Wednesday, from 9 am to 2 pm at Ain Shams Hospital.
Research subjects:
A pilot study was carried out on 5 % (67 clients) of a target population who attended the previously mentioned setting. All older adults who suffered from gastrointestinal health problems were included in the study. They were 335 patients (146) male and (189) female.
Tools for data collection:
The data for this study were collected by using two tools:
First Tool: Structured interviewing questionnaire:
It was developed by the investigator and reviewed by the supervisors; it was presented in Arabic language and was divided into the following parts:
Part I: older adults’ socio-demographic characteristics: this part covers older adults’ (gender, age, marital status, level of education, income, place of residence, occupation, family size, Number of rooms in the house, and congestion rate).
Part II: It contained older adults’ knowledge about gastrointestinal tract health problems as (meaning, types, signs& symptoms, prevention, causes, methods of diagnosing, treatment, prevention, complications, foods that should be eaten or should not be eaten to avoid digestive disorders).
Part III: It included older adults’ reported practices toward gastrointestinal tract health problems as (Type of food, eating habits, like or dislike food, prevention, exercise, way to cook food, maintaining older adults’ hygiene, smoking or drinking alcohol, how you get rid of diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, how do you overcome the loss of appetite, how do you overcome vomiting and nausea, how to protect yourself from digestive disorders).
Second Tool:
Medical record review including the past and present medical history as (Medical diagnosis, Symptoms that appeared in older adults, medical examinations, prescribed treatment, Complications, and medications)
Results:
The results of this current study were represented in the following sequences:
1. That the mean age of all older adults was 69.63± 5.71 years with (31.9%) between 65 and less than 70 years old. (56.4%) older adults were females.
2. (94.3%) of older adults answered constipation, (96.4%) chronic diarrhea, and dysphagia were the most common answers to the question about the types of health problems for the digestive system in the older adults.
3. 90.7% of older adults’ answers were physical examinations, regarding older adults’ knowledge about methods of diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases in the older adult.
4. (97%) older adults get rid of constipation by drinking plenty of water and fluids, (66.9%) of them overcome vomiting and nausea by stopping temporarily taking all oral medications.
5. As regards medical diagnosis of older adults with a gastrointestinal disease, (23.9%) the most common diagnosis was constipation.
6. (98.2%) was abdominal pain, (62.4%) Constipation, and (20.9%) diarrhea, As regards symptoms that appeared in older adults with gastrointestinal disease.
7. (83.9%) were Pain relievers, (36.1%) antacids were Medicines taken by older adults with a gastrointestinal disease.
8. All older adults underwent Physical examination, and 45.7% underwent Conducting medical examinations and analyses related to the digestive system.
9. As regards complications, (17.9%) of older adults had chronic constipation that lasts for months and sometimes years, (16.1%) cases had chronic diarrhea.
10. There were high statistically significant relations between older adults’ social demographic characteristics and their knowledge about their gastrointestinal problems.
11. There were high statistically significant relations between older adults’ knowledge and their practices.