ABSTRACT

To evaluate Acıbadem University students’ self-awareness of their constipation statuses and investigate whether there is an association between constipation and prolonged sitting time in the toilet affected by toilet habits.

This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 7 to April 3, 2019, at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University. The questionnaire consists of 3 parts and a total of 16 questions. The first part asked about the participants’ gender, age, faculty, and school year to collect their demographic information. The second part investigated participants' awareness of constipation and factors affecting constipation. The last part included questions about toilet habits and their sitting time in the toilet. The constipation status of participants was evaluated using the Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria and the self-awareness of participants about their constipation statuses was assessed.

293 students from 5 different faculties (Medicine, Pharmacy, Medical Engineering, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Psychology) of Acıbadem University participated in our study. Our results showed that 22.54% of students were appeared to be constipated. Out of all the students, 24.45% of them were unaware that they were constipated. The use of smartphones was the most common toilet habit, and it increased the time spent sitting on the toilet. Constipation was seen at higher rates among students who spent a longer time on the toilet.

Our study demonstrated that having toilet habits increased the time spent sitting on the toilet. Our study also found that as the time spent on the toilet increased, the prevalence of constipation among participants increased accordingly. Poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles of young adults may have a cumulative effect on constipation. Raising public awareness regarding proper defecation routines and limiting toilet habits and sitting time on the toilet seems essential to prevent constipation.

Keywords: Constipation, toilets habits, lifestyle, smartphone, young adult