Table 1 Characteristics of the intervention and control groups

Demographic factors

 Age^a

81.99 ± 8.59

83.72 ± 9.18

80.26 ± 7.66

 Female^b

57 (53.8%)

26 (49.1%)

31 (58.5%)

Present health conditions

 Chronic constipation history^b

34 (32.1%)

17 (32.1%)

17 (32.1%)

 Genitourinary surgery history^b

27 (25.5%)

12 (22.6%)

15 (28.3%)

 Urinary incontinence^b

43 (40.6%)

22 (41.5%)

21 (39.6%)

 Charlson comorbidity index^c, median ± IQR

6 (4–7)

6 (4–7)

6 (3.5–7.5)

 Body mass index^a

22.52 ± 4.18

22.39 ± 4.16

22.65 ± 4.64

 Cognitive impairment^b

82 (77.4%)

42 (79.2%)

40 (75.5%)

 Depressive symptoms^b

36 (34.0%)

20 (54.1%)

16 (36.4%)

 Katz ADL score (baseline)^c, median ± IQR

3 (0–5)

3 (0–5)

3 (0–5)