Constipation in Adults – Diagnosis and Management

Overview

This module will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and includes the following elements. 

• Background
  • Definition, prevalence, risk factors, secondary causes, complications, and prognosis.
• Diagnosis
  • When to suspect a diagnosis of constipation and how to assess the severity.
• Management
  • Management in primary care of short-term and chronic constipation, faecal loading and/or impaction, and how to treat constipation in pregnancy and breastfeeding women
• An optional quiz to assess your learning from the course
• An audit suggestion
• A list of useful links and resources for further reading

Goals

During this course you will learn:

• How to assess a person presenting with constipation.
• The different treatment options available.
• Lifestyle measures to suggest to a patient.
• When to refer someone to a gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon.

Audit Suggestions

Topics covered