Abstract: Objective: To investigate the status of intestinal preparation for colonoscopy in old people and to analyze the influential factors. Methods: The data from 180 elderly patients who underwent colonoscopy at the Digestive Endoscopy Center of a tertiary hospital in Shanxi province from January to April 2018. General information , information on intestinal preparation, and information on social support status were collected by endoscopists. BBPS was used to evaluate patients' intestinal cleanliness during the course of the procedure. Logistic regression was used to data analysis. Results: In elderly patients with colonoscopy, the incidence of unqualified bowel preparation was 32.8%. Logistic regression analysis showed that the failing of bowel preparation correlated to the patient's history of abdominal surgery, diabetes history, exercise and eating habits, the type of diet of patients on the day before the examination, and medication time, dose accuracy, tolerance, defecation traits before patient examination, patient's educational level, and social support status. Conclusion: Intestinal readiness before colonoscopy remains low in elderly patients, and many factors have effects on intestinal cleansing in elderly patients. Relevant medical workers should identify factors of intestinal insufficiency and provide targeted nursing measures, and thus improves the quality of intestinal preparation in elderly patients.

Key words: elderly patients; enteroscopy; bowel preparation; influencing factors