Study on the Application of Stepwise Nursing Intervention in Abdominal Distension after Enteral Nutrition for Elderly Bedridden Patients

Objective: To explore the effect of stepwise nursing intervention in abdominal distension after enteral nutrition for elderly bedridden patients. Methods: Seventy elderly bedridden patients who received enteral nutrition and developed abdominal distension in the hospital from April 2024 to April 2025 were selected and divided into an observation group (n=35) and a control group (n=35) based on differences in nursing methods. The control group received routine nursing intervention, while the observation group received stepwise nursing intervention. After the same nursing duration, the self-care ability, psychological status, nursing effect, gastrointestinal function, and nursing satisfaction of the two groups were compared. Results: After nursing, the self-care ability scores of both groups increased significantly, and the improvement in each dimension of the observation group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After nursing, the SDS and SAS scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the time for abdominal distension relief and anal exhaust was significantly shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). After nursing, the four indicators of GAS, MOT, neuropeptide Y, and substance P in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The total satisfaction rate of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Stepwise nursing intervention can significantly improve the self-care ability and nursing satisfaction of elderly bedridden patients, improve their psychological status and gastrointestinal function, shorten the time of exhaust, and accelerate the relief of abdominal distension.