Overview

Constipation is a common postoperative problem in patients undergoing hip surgery and may be associated with immobilization, opioid analgesic use, and inadequate fluid and fiber intake. Preventive interventions, including adequate fluid and nutritional intake, early mobilization, and abdominal massage, may help maintain bowel function. However, evidence regarding the effectiveness of a standardized checklist to guide and monitor these interventions throughout the perioperative period remains limited. This randomized controlled trial aims to determine the impact of monitoring the risk of perioperative constipation and prevention interventions using a standard checklist on bowel sounds, postoperative constipation severity, and quality of recovery in hip surgery patients. The checklist includes a systematic assessment of constipation risk and monitoring of preventive interventions, including fluid and nutrient intake, early mobilization, and abdominal massage. The findings may contribute to improving perioperative nursing care and constipation prevention in patients undergoing hip surgery.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who will undergo primary hip surgery due to a fracture,
• 18 years of age and older,
• Able to communicate in Turkish and possess the cognitive/communicative competence to respond to data collection tools,
• Without hearing problems that would impede communication (including those using hearing aids),
• Expected to be monitored for at least 3 days postoperatively,
• Patients who volunteer to participate in the study and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with diagnosed chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease,
• Patients with a history of gastrointestinal surgery or a stoma,
• Patients with acute abdomen, suspected bowel obstruction, gastrointestinal perforation, active gastrointestinal bleeding, etc.,
• Patients with abdominal wall or abdominal clinical conditions that prevent abdominal massage,
• Patients with contraindications for mobilization and who have an external fixator,
• Patients with (Mini Cognitif Test) Mini-Cog \<3,
• Patients with active psychiatric illness that would prevent participation in the study or data collection process,
• Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists IV or V (ASA IV or V),
• Patients whose surgery has been postponed,
• Patients who have undergone secondary hip surgery.