Prevalence and correlates of fecal incontinence in community-dwelling older adults.

Objectives: To determine prevalence and correlates of fecal incontinence in older community-dwelling adults.

Design: A cross-sectional, population-based survey.

Setting: Participants interviewed at home in three rural and two urban counties in Alabama from 1999 to 2001.

Pelvic floor surgery in the older woman: enhanced compared with usual preoperative assessment.

Objective: To examine whether knowledge of deficits obtained in a preoperative geriatric assessment may benefit postoperative health outcomes in older women undergoing pelvic surgery.

Methods: This study employed a pre-post intervention cohort design. Primary outcome was difference in scores of the Physical Component Summary and Mental Component Summary of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 Health Survey in 62 older women who had undergone "usual" compared with an "enhanced" preoperative assessment consisting of Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Get Up and Go Test, Draw a Clock Test, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Geriatric Depression Scale, and Social Support Scale.