An audit of rectal examination on general/geriatric wards in a district general hospital

A study of 187 in-patients on designated medical/geriatric wards revealed that rectal examination was performed as part of physical examination in only 25% of patients. In the elderly (118 patients) it was performed in 36%. A prospective analysis of 100 elderly patients, in whom digital rectal examination was performed, revealed that 46 patients had significant findings. In only 33 of these were there any gastrointestinal or genitourinary symptoms or signs. As a result of these findings it is recommended that digital rectal examination be considered mandatory in the elderly admitted into hospital.