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Background: Constipation is an uncomfortable symptom experienced by many patients with advanced cancer, and it decreases the quality of life. Several studies have advised pharmacological therapies for constipation management, whereas others have promoted nonpharmacological approaches that promote changes in the patient's lifestyle. However, constipation management by nurses has not yet been systematically reviewed in patients with cancer. Therefore, this study conducted a scoping review of nursing support focused on nonpharmacological therapies offered to relieve constipation in patients with cancer. Methods: The review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review framework. We searched the databases of PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, CENTRAL in the Cochrane Library, and Ichushi-Web of the Japan Medical Abstract Society from the databases' inceptions to August 31, 2023, using various search terms such as "cancer," "constipation," and "nursing care." Results: A total of 1501 articles that met the eligibility criteria were identified; of these, 5 articles were selected, and 1 additional article was found via handsearching. The final sample included six articles. We categorized the articles into three major nursing support types: acupressure, aroma massage to the abdomen, and self-management education. Five studies used a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, including one with a randomized, waiting-list controlled trial, and one used a non-RCT design. All included studies showed the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions to improve constipation. Conclusion: This study also identified three types of nursing support for patients with cancer to relieve constipation. However, because of the small sample size, further evidence is required.

Chronic constipation, which is common and often difficult to treat, has numerous origins, including neurological and other conditions, and adverse reactions to drugs, especially opioids. Chronic functional constipation lacks a clear underlying cause. Increasing evidence suggests that transanal irrigation (TAI) aids faecal evacuation and is well tolerated in many people with bowel dysfunction who do not adequately respond to first-line treatments. Recent papers offer insights that help nurses and other healthcare professionals implement best practice in the community, including discussing any need for assistance before starting TAI, agreeing the most appropriate device with patients and optimising the irrigation protocol. Training, careful follow-up and ongoing supervision improve adherence and success. Further studies are needed, however, and patients who do not respond adequately or are unable to tolerate TAI should be referred to a specialist service.

Introduction and Objective: Constipation is a common complication following spinal surgery that can result in distension, abdominal pain, infection, and even intestinal perforation. This study reports on an evidence-based implementation project to reduce the incidence of constipation in spinal surgery wards., Methods: The project was conducted in the spinal surgery ward of a general tertiary hospital in Changsha City, China, from March to August 2022. We used the JBI Implementation Framework and the JBI Model of Evidence-Based Healthcare for audits and feedback. Data were collected and analyzed using JBI's Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (PACES) software. Seven audit criteria were developed based on the best practice recommendations summarized by JBI. A baseline audit was conducted with 20 nurses and 50 patients in the spinal surgery ward, and a follow-up audit was conducted using the same sample size and setting., Results: The baseline audit revealed compliance below 46% for five of the seven criteria. Strategies developed to address poor compliance included educating nurses and patients, developing a post-operative constipation risk assessment sheet, organizing stakeholder focus group meetings, establishing a constipation management routine, and effective empowerment of nurses. The follow-up audit showed positive compliance results, with the highest rate for Criterion 7 (100%) and the greatest increase for Criterion 2 (from 0% to 78%). Furthermore, the incidence of post-operative constipation decreased from 48% to 16%., Conclusion: The project improved compliance with audit criteria, reduced the incidence of constipation, and enhanced the efficiency of quality management in the spinal surgery ward., Spanish Abstract: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A186., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 JBI. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.)

Objective: To analyze the accuracy of clinical indicators of constipation in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy., Methods: A diagnostic accuracy study was conducted from February to September 2018, with 240 cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The data collection instrument was a form with sociodemographic and clinical variables, and clinical indicators of constipation. The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical indicators of interest were calculated using a latent class analysis approach., Result: The prevalence of constipation in the sample was 86.6%. The most sensitive clinical indicators were straining with defecation (100.0%), and hypoactive bowel sounds (75.0%), while headache (99.9%), abdominal pain (75.0%), pain with defecation (75.0%), straining with defecation (99.9%) and liquid stool (78.1%) were indicators with high specificity., Conclusion: A set of six clinical indicators was significantly associated with the occurrence of constipation in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, especially straining with defecation. These indicators can be used by nurses to identify constipation and propose prompt and effective interventions.

Purpose: The Constipation Risk Assessment Scale (CRAS) is a valid tool for predicting the risk of developing constipation. This study aimed to translate the CRAS into Chinese and evaluate its psychometric properties in Chinese cancer patients., Method: The CRAS was translated into Chinese following standard forward- and back-translation procedures. Scale and item indices were calculated for content validity (S-CVI; I-CVI). In total, 175 cancer patients were assessed with the CRAS on the first day of antitumour treatment, of whom 145 were submitted to the predictive validity test, and their defecation pattern, stool consistency, and ease of defecation were assessed for one week. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to describe the prediction accuracy of CRAS-C for constipation. Reliability was evaluated by means of an interrater reliability test using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) in 30 patients., Results: The S-CVI was 0.99, and for each item, the I-CVI was 0.80-1.00. The area under the curve of CRAS-C was 0.722 (95% CI, 0.631-0.812). A CRAS-C score ≥11 indicated a high constipation risk, and a score <11 indicated a low constipation risk. The sensitivity and specificity were 0.887 (95% CI, 0.763-0.953) and 0.500 (95% CI, 0.376-0.624), respectively, and the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.588 (95% CI, 0.472-0.695) and 0.846 (95% CI, 0.688-0.936), respectively. The ICC between the two raters for the total CRAS-C score was 0.963, and the ICC in the four subscales was 0.843-0.955., Conclusions: The CRAS-C demonstrated favourable content validity, predictive validity and interrater reliability. It can be used in the identification of subjects at risk of constipation and the development of constipation prevention programmes in Chinese cancer patients., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Constipation is one of the common poststroke complications that directly affect the patients' quality of life in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), which has not been paid enough attention., Objective: This study investigates constipation's clinical characteristics and its risk factors in ICH patients driven by the electronic medical records of nursing care., Methods: This retrospective chart review investigated patients with acute spontaneous ICH admitted at a tertiary care center from October 2010 to December 2018. Poststroke constipation was defined as a first stool passage occurring after 3 days postadmission and the use of enemas or laxatives after ICH. The associations between constipation present and potential factors were evaluated., Results: Of 1,748 patients, 408 (70.3% men, mean age 58 ± 14 years) patients with poststroke constipation were identified. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the risk factors independently associated with poststroke constipation are admission Glasgow Coma Scale score (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-0.88; p = 0.007), use of mechanical ventilation (OR 3.74, 95% CI 2.37-5.89, p < 0.001), enteral nutrition (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.85-4.30, p < 0.001), hematoma evacuation (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.40-3.16; p < 0.001), opioid analgesics (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.32-2.62; p < 0.001), sedation (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.20-2.77; p = 0.005), and vasopressors (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.26-2.61; p = 0.001) in order. Similar associations were observed in the prespecified length of the stay subgroup. Patients with constipation were associated with a longer hospital stay length (2.24 days, 95% CI 1.43-3.05, p < 0.001) but not with in-hospital mortality (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.58-1.90, p = 0.871)., Conclusions: Our findings suggested that risk factors influence the absence of constipation after ICH with the synergy of different weights. The occurrence of constipation likely affects a longer length of stay, but not in-hospital mortality. Future prospective investigations are warranted to validate our findings and identify the optimal management of constipation that may improve the quality of life in patients with ICH., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: To identify nonpharmacological clinically effective interventions for constipation in adults., Methods: A systematic review of experimental studies of nonpharmacological interventions addressing participants' management of constipation using samples of adults over 18 years of age was conducted. In evaluating the methodological quality of the eligible studies, we used the assumptions of the Cochrane Collaboration, and for the reporting of items in the systematic review we used the Model of Preferential Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The protocol of this review was recorded in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews of the University of York under number 43693., Results: This review included 12 randomized controlled trials. Nonpharmacological effective interventions for the resolution of constipation were identified: individualized intervention based on the participant's modifiable risk factors of constipation promoting literacy in health; educational measures in dietary modification and lifestyle; and abdominal massage., Conclusions: Specific nonpharmacological interventions are crucial for nurses' clinical practice and of major importance for clients and families. Evidence on these interventions in resolving constipation is still scarce and fails to provide evidence-based data to support nursing clinical practice., Clinical Relevance: Personal lifestyles, comorbidities, medication, and sedentary habits are likely to be risk factors in constipation. Thus, it is important to invest in nonpharmacological interventions that promote changes in behavior regarding prevention or resolution of constipation. Moreover, nursing researchers worldwide should conduct research for clinical practice regarding the fundamentals of care., (© 2020 Sigma Theta Tau International.)

Purpose: Children with Down syndrome (DS) are more likely to experience bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) than typically developing children, which could in turn have a serious effect on children with DS and on their parents and other family members. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of BBD in Korean children with DS and its effect on parental quality of life (QOL)., Design and Methods: To assess BBD and parental QOL, we used self-administered questionnaires (Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score [DVSS], Rome IV criteria, and World Health Organization Quality of Life scale [WHOQOL-BREF]) for parents of children with DS. We collected data from 86 parents between September and October 2017 through an online community website., Results: DVSS was elevated in 26.7% of the children with DS. Specifically, 14% had daytime urinary incontinence, and 33.7% had functional constipation. Moreover, 18.6% of children had BBD according to the DVSS and Rome IV criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of DVSS to functional constipation was 55.17% and 87.72%, respectively. The BBD score and total parental QOL score were statistically correlated (r = 0.291, p = 0.007)., Conclusions: Although children with DS are a high-risk group for BBD, their BBD symptoms are often overlooked because of their intellectual disability. Consequently, this could negatively affect children's and family's health and QOL in the long term., Practice Implications: Health-care providers should reconsider a routine check-up of BBD in children with DS. If a child has BBD, health-care providers should consult a urologist to determine the appropriate diagnosis and intervention., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Individuals with intellectual disability can experience multifaceted physical, psychological, emotional health and wellbeing problems. Chronic constipation is one of the major health problems for this cohort of the population; it is linked with distress, discomfort, pain, faecal incontinence, anxiety, behavioural difficulties and severe gastrointestinal complications. A continence assessment process for constipation ensures that planning, implementation and evaluation strategies provide quality health outcomes for individuals and their families. Proactive treatment interventions range from increasing fluid intake, alterations in dietary intake, implementing toileting routine and medication management. Health promotion approaches need to be positively implemented for individuals with intellectual disability to promote a healthy lifestyle, improve nutritional intake, increase access to exercise programs and thus advance health, wellbeing and quality outcomes.

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, ascites, constipation, and anorexia, are common and often refractory in advanced cancer patients. The palliation of gastrointestinal symptoms is important in improving the quality of life of cancer patients, as well as that of their families and caregivers. Currently published clinical guidelines for the management of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients do not comprehensively cover the topics or are not based on a formal process for the development of clinical guidelines. Methods: The Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine (JSPM) developed comprehensive clinical guidelines for the management of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients after a formal guideline development process. Results: This article summarizes the recommendations along with their rationale and a short summary of the development process of the JSPM gastrointestinal symptom management guidelines. We established 31 recommendations, all of which are based on the best available evidence and agreement of expert taskforce members. Discussion: Future clinical studies and continuous guideline updates are required to improve gastrointestinal symptom management in cancer patients.

Background: The prevalence of constipation in the general population is 2-28%. Patients with constipation report symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, straining to defecate and general discomfort. Strategies for preventing constipation include laxatives, exercise and increased fluid and fibre intake, but life style adjustments, such as exercise, eating more fibres and drinking more fluids, were not considered a solution by older patients. Previous studies have shown that actively involving patients through individualised care and support increases patients' outcome., Aim: To test the efficacy of a nursing intervention based on active patient involvement including individualised nursing care plans and daily dialogues for patients with hip fractures in preventing constipation after surgery., Methods: A quasi-experimental design was applied. Inclusion criteria hip fracture needing surgery, understand Danish. Exclusion criteria dementia, gastrointestinal disease. A total of 186 patients were included and 155 completed. An admission interview including Constipation Risk Assessment Scale was undertaken. On that basis an individualised nursing care plan was made. At admission, discharge and 30 days after surgery constipation, intake of fibres and fluid were measured. The Bristol Stool Scale and Rasmussen's scale were used to measure constipation. Patients in the control group received standard care of the ward., Results: After 30 days constipation rates for patients in the intervention group were significantly lower than for patients in the control group (p = 0.042). The fibre intakes and fluid intakes were significantly higher in the intervention group (p ≤ 0.001). The effect of liquid intake was statistically significant (OR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.2). Likewise, the effect of fibre intake was statistically significant; the odds of constipation decreased with increasing fibre intake (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.8)., Conclusion: Patients with hip fractures that were actively involved in their own care in preventing constipation were significantly less constipated 30 days after surgery than control patients. Increases in fluid and fibre intakes had significant effects on reducing the risk of developing constipation., (© 2017 Nordic College of Caring Science.)

Introduction: The Constipation Assessment Scale (CRAS) was developed in order to enable the prediction of the risk of developing constipation. The scale needs validation in acute and elective patients with common disorders., Materials and Method: Two hundred and six acute patients with hip fracture and 200 elective patients with total knee or hip replacement were included. They were assessed with CRAS before surgery and their defecation pattern, stool consistency and degree of straining were measured at admission and 30 days after surgery., Results: The prevalence of constipation was 0.49 for the acute patients and 0.34 for the elective patients. Sensitivity was 0.67 and 0.57. Specificity was 0.54 and 0.52. Positive predictive value was 0.59 and 0.38, whereas the negative predictive value was 0.63 and 0.7., Conclusion: When used in an orthopaedic ward, the prognostic accuracy of CRAS is poor and it cannot be recommended as a screening tool., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Constipation is a common health problem in relation to hospitalization. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate whether advice from a home care nurse after discharge had an effect on self-reported signs of constipation. A total of 59 patients were included in the study on the basis of their self-reported signs of constipation evaluated using the Constipation Assessment Scale. Advice from the home care nurses was given on the intake of fiber and liquid and mobilization related to scorings on the Constipation Risk Assessment Scale, the administration of laxatives, and referral to a physician when needed. Results showed a tendency toward the visits being effective, but a more complex intervention might be needed.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of nursing care against constipation and to identify, analyze and evaluate causes and consequences., Methodology: Observational, descriptive and prospective study in polyvalent ICU tertiary hospital (2013-2015)., Inclusion Criteria: >18 years, stay >7 days, connected to respiratory support, with nasogastric tube and enteral or mixed nutrition. Patients with gastrointestinal pathology, encephalopathic and jejunostomy/ileostomy were excluded. The studied variables (age, sex, weight, height, pathology, medical treatment, nutrition and volume type, depositional characteristics, quantity and frequency, corrective measures and complications) were collected by ad hoc grill. It is authorized by the CEIC., Results: 139 patients with a mean age of 62 years and average stay of 11 days were analyzed; 63% suffered from constipation. Opiates and antacid were the drugs administered most frequently (99%), even though patients who took muscle relaxants, iron supplements and/or calcium and anti-hypertensive were the ones who suffered most from constipation (77%; 75%; 70%) The fiber free diet was the most widely used (60% constipated), followed by dietary fiber (51% constipated), and the combination of both (85% constipated). 56% used laxatives as a corrective measure, Magnesium Hydroxide being the most widely used; 54% began the first day. Gastric retention was the most relevant complication (49%)., Conclusion: Constipation is a real multifactorial problem. We recommend: • Intensified surveillance in patients with drugs that promote constipation. • Use high-fiber diets from the outset. • Apply laxatives and prokinetics early and in combination. We need to create a protocol for prophylaxis and management of constipation., (Copyright © 2017 Sociedad Española de Enfermería Intensiva y Unidades Coronarias (SEEIUC). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

This article discusses transanal irrigation: what it is, the clinical conditions that might be helped by it and less invasive options that should be considered before starting irrigation. It looks at the delivery of this procedure, describes the different options available and compares and contrasts devices manufactured by five different companies. Contraindications are listed and side-effects discussed. Problems and possible solutions are considered. Transanal irrigation education for nurses and teaching patients is reviewed. Follow-up is discussed, including the reasons why some patients abandon irrigation. Quality of life can be improved for those who become successful users of transanal irrigation. When patients do continue to irrigate, even when this is not problem free, it can help them regain control over their bowel dysfunction by allowing them to evacuate their bowels at a time and a place that is convenient.

Deviation from normal bowel function in the pediatric population is often a cause for concern for parents and caregivers, prompting numerous visits to a primary care provider. Constipation is a common and challenging issue in children that can have an adverse impact on their psychosocial and emotional well-being as well as quality of life. This article provides practical strategies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing constipation in children.

Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate whether variables identified as likely to impact the experience of constipation in other clinical settings similarly affected the experiences of constipated palliative care patients., Background: The majority of palliative care patients with cancer are likely to be bothered by constipation symptoms at some point in their disease trajectory. Despite this, it remains unclear as to which factors predict more severe problems., Methods: This study was conducted in a sample of 94 constipated palliative care patients who were asked to voluntarily complete a series of questions regarding their demographic and other characteristics, including whether they had chronic constipation symptoms, that is, constipation symptoms for 12 months. Other variables included age, body mass index, sex, performance status, and regular opioids and their doses. At the same time, they were asked to complete the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) and Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) questionnaires., Results: Descriptive statistics summarized baseline data. Unadjusted associations between the selected variables on PAC-SYM were examined by using bi-variate analyses. Significant variables identified on bi-variate analyses were included in a multivariate analysis. The final results identified that only the chronicity of constipation symptoms predicted more severe symptoms. This relationship persisted when this single variable was retained in the final model, illustrating that PAC-SYM scores are 0.41 higher in patients with chronic constipation compared with those without it (p = 0.02). In contrast, regular opioid use was not identified as a significant factor (p = 0.56)., Discussion: This study suggests that the factor most likely to predict worse constipation symptoms was the duration that people had experienced problems. Further, those who perceived their constipation symptoms to be more severe had a poorer quality of life. More work is required to better define constipation risk factors and ways to best modify a patient's experiences.

Constipation is a common complaint for people of all ages, with prevalence increasing with age and during pregnancy. Women are more likely to be affected than men. Severity of constipation varies from person to person; most people experience short periods of constipation during their lives, including possibly after surgery, while others have constipation as a chronic long-term condition that can significantly affect their quality of life. There are a number of factors that can contribute to developing constipation including diets low in fibre, changes in lifestyle, side effects of certain medications and low fluid intake. People can successfully treat constipation by making changes to their diet and lifestyle. However, medication may be required to manage constipation for some.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a conservative regimen for the treatment of constipation in persons living with a colostomy., Design: Prospective, noncontrolled, single-center study., Subjects and Setting: The study sample comprised 35 patients with a colostomy who were diagnosed with constipation. Subjects with morphologic changes causing constipation such as stomal stenosis and neoplastic and inflammatory changes were excluded. The study was conducted in the Proctology and Stoma Outpatient Clinic at Poznan University of Medical Sciences., Methods: Patients at our Stoma Outpatient Clinic underwent baseline evaluation, and those with symptoms of constipation (prolonged periods between bowel movements, passage of pasty or hardened fecal effluent, and associated symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or bloating, flatulence, and pain with passage of effluent into the stoma) received individualized dietary recommendations that typically included an increase in dietary fiber and fluid intake, along with increased fluid intake. The outcomes of dietary changes were evaluated during a follow-up visit 3 months later. If dietary changes alone did not improve constipation symptoms, we prescribed a psyllium-based bulk-forming agent, an osmotic stool softener, and a probiotic, with or without a prokinetic agent such as metoclopramide taken 3 times daily., Results: Dietary interventions alone were deemed successful in 60% of study subjects (n = 21); the remaining 14 patients required additional treatment., Conclusions: Dietary modifications alone relieved constipation in more than half of a group of 35 patients with constipation. We therefore recommend a trial of dietary modifications prior to the initiation of pharmacotherapy in patients with a colostomy.

Aims and Objectives: To analyse the impact of preoperative defecation pattern on postoperative defecation pattern for patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Background: Constipation is a neglected problem that occurs frequently after cardiac surgery., Design: Descriptive study., Method: The study sample comprised 102 patients who underwent cardiac surgery. A Descriptive Information Form, Rome III Diagnostic Criteria, Constipation Severity Instrument, Postoperative Defecation Pattern Evaluation Form and Bristol Stool Form Scale were used for data collection and analysis., Results: The Constipation Severity Instrument scores of just over one-third (37·2%) of the patients who were constipated prior to surgery were higher compared to those who were not constipated. Following cardiac surgery, 39·2% of patients developed constipation and 80% of these patients were constipated prior to cardiac surgery. The findings indicate a significantly high relationship between preoperative and postoperative defecation pattern (r = 0·71, p < 0·001)., Conclusion: Preoperative defecation pattern is a determining factor for the development of postoperative constipation for patients undergoing cardiac surgery., Relevance to Clinical Practice: During the preoperative period, clinical nurses may evaluate the patients' defecation patterns using valid and reliable scales and follow the defecation of the patients, especially patients with defecation problems, during the postoperative period., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Progress has been made in the past year in the guidance available for health professionals caring for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In April 2016, the first National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standard on IBS in adults was published and new dietary guidelines were developed. Nurses are at the forefront of caring for people with IBS across all healthcare sectors and may have more time to understand the patient's perspective and advise on lifestyle changes than a general practitioner in the average 10-minute consultation. Rapid diagnosis and evidence-based treatments using treatment pathways significantly reduces healthcare costs in primary care and improves quality of life. First-line treatment modalities remain a combination of lifestyle factors, diet and medications, but for persistent refractory symptoms, referral to specialist practitioners should be considered. This article aims to update nurses on new practice guidance and provide information on when it is appropriate to refer patients for specialist care.

Constipation is a common childhood condition that health professionals will encounter in many different settings. The majority of these cases of childhood constipation are idiopathic in nature. It is considered to exhibit the 'tip of the iceberg' phenomenon as a large number of cases remain undetected due to under-recognition by families, embarrassment regarding the condition, fear of receiving a negative response from health professionals, or parental belief there is actually something more seriously wrong and failure to accept the diagnosis. Prompt evaluation and management is likely to be associated with better outcomes. To ensure this, fast recognition of symptoms, with care taken to exclude any 'red flag' symptoms that could indicate an organic cause and subsequently a different treatment pathway, is essential. Nurses, given their regular contact with families in different settings, are suitably placed to detect these symptoms early and can play a vital role in successful management of the condition. Laxatives are the first line in management of constipation. Polyethylene glycol 3350 is the laxative that evidence-based guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2010) recommend as the initial pharmacological management. Advice should also be given about supportive measures, including diet and lifestyle changes.

Epidermis bullosa is a genetically inherited disease in which painful blistering of the skin or mucous membranes occurs after minor trauma. It is a lifelong problem. The diagnosis should be confirmed by a specialist, preferably at a specialist unit where a treatment plan and follow-up arrangements for professionals and families can be put in place. Nurses will be involved in frequent dressings of wounds, after extra analgesia, and may need to be alert to any need for further specialist referral, especially in the case of complications such as infection, deformities, gastrointestinal strictures and possible skin cancers. Genetic counselling should also be offered to families, especially when considering the possible risks to future pregnancies.

Intractable functional constipation is a common gastrointestinal disorder that features persistent difficult defecation, reduced bowel movements, or a feeling of incomplete defecation. Despite many therapeutic approaches, there has not been an established standard treatment protocol. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), an innovative therapy that was introduced recently, has been preliminarily shown to have good effects and is expected to have good prospects. However, nursing is also of great importance during the process of FMT. An innovative nursing care protocol is combined with FMT, with a view to improving the clinical symptoms and quality of life of patients with intractable functional dyspepsia. This case-based study addresses the effects of nursing interventions used during the treatment of one patient with intractable functional constipation who received FMT.

Strategies that improve the regularity and efficiency of defecation can eliminate or minimize episodes of fecal incontinence. The medical-surgical nurse's role in identifying patients with fecal incontinence is discussed, along with various treatments to control bowel elimination.

Background: Orthopaedic procedures place children at risk for postoperative constipation due to combined effects of anesthesia, narcotics, and decreased physical mobility., Purpose: This retrospective study analyzed medication use and stool outcomes of 36 children who received polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG) or mineral oil (MO) after a spinal fusion., Methods and Results: A chart review found no statistical differences by group for number of bowel movements (BMs) before discharge (p = .37), time from procedure to BM, use of rescue cathartics (p = .55), or medication refusal (p = .37). In the PEG group, 90% refused the medication one or more times compared with 75% in the MO group., Conclusion: Only 17% of patients had a BM before discharge. Findings suggest medication refusal may be related to the method of medication preparation, suggesting the child's choice in bowel regimens may be indicated. A prospective study with a larger, randomized sample size is needed.

Constipation is a common presenting problem within the community setting, but its treatment is often unsatisfactory. It is important for nurses to remember that constipation is a symptom and not a disease. For older adults, constipation can have a gradual onset over a number of years, with many people 'self-medicating' with over-the-counter laxatives and herbal products, which then result in the need for daily laxatives. This article will consider best practice for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of constipation in adults within the community.

Constipation is common in the palliative population. Opioid medications, which are frequently prescribed to this cohort, represent a significant risk factor for this condition. Opioid-induced constipation may be of such severity that opioid doses are reduced or missed, and analgesia and quality of life are therefore reduced. However, underlying chronic constipation, local and systemic disease effects, and other medications may also precipitate constipation in this population. The assessment and treatment of constipation in a palliative individual should be undertaken in a fashion similar to that used in non-palliative patients. Initial management should include minimising exposure to predisposing factors and general measures such as encouraging hydration, fibre intake and mobility. Pharmacological treatment should commence with a stool softener and a stimulant laxative. Recently published literature demonstrates that newer laxatives, including lubiprostone (a chloride channel activator) and prucalopride (a 5-HT4 receptor agonist) can effectively treat opioid-induced constipation. For patients not responding to laxatives, opioid antagonists (non-specific or peripherally acting μ-opioid receptor antagonists) can be co-prescribed with laxatives. These agents have also proven efficacy in treating opioid-induced constipation. This review discusses the recent literature regarding the management of opioid-induced constipation and provides a rational approach to assessing and managing constipation in the palliative population.

Patients with dementia, especially those with advanced dementia, may not be able to express their bowel movement and urination needs using lucid language, and instead do so through behaviors. The aim of the current study was to understand and compare the behavioral characteristics of bowel movement and urination needs in patients with dementia. Observations were made by caregivers of 187 patients with dementia based on the Behavior Checklist developed by the research team for bowel movement and urination. Sixteen behavioral characteristics were identified for both bowel movement and urination; among these, anxiety, taking off/putting on clothes inappropriately, restlessness, attempting to go elsewhere, scratching skin, repeated behavior, and making strange sounds were commonly reported. Facial expressions of sorrow, restlessness, and anxiety were the three most common behaviors related to bowel movement needs, whereas anxiety, taking off/putting on clothes inappropriately, and constant moaning were the most common behaviors for urination needs. The findings suggest that the common behavioral characteristics could be seen as indicators of excretion need and the others can be used to distinguish between the need for bowel movement and urination., (Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.)

Constipation is a distressing disorder that is common among older patients in hospital. It is often underdiagnosed and undertreated, and can lead to increased morbidity and prolonged hospital stays. In most cases this common problem can be treated successfully if the correct management plan is adopted. This article reviews the prevention and management strategies available to address the issue.

Constipation commonly occurs in older people, particularly in hospital or residential care settings, and leads to decreased quality of life and increased healthcare costs. Despite its frequency, however, nurses often overlook the condition. One possible reason for this may be the lack of appropriate tools or scales for nurses to assess risk factors for developing constipation. This article identifies, from the academic literature, 14 risk factors for developing constipation in older people. These factors are then considered in light of four common constipation assessment charts. The article concludes by arguing the need for more comprehensive assessment tools to, firstly, identify risk factors; and, secondly, support the implementation of appropriate preventative strategies that will enable better health outcomes for older people.

This article is to summarise key concepts for the health of the midwife, with particular focus on constipation. This is often a taboo subject even amongst women whi aren't midwives, so they do not always freely discuss the issue. It is a key discussion when talking through iron supplementation, hormonal changes and nutrition within the realm of the midwife. Raising awareness and taking care of your own bowel habits is key to enjoying future health and wellbeing.

Background: The effects of home nursing intervention on the quality of life in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy and chemotherapy are unclear. According to the characteristics of nursing home patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, we should continuously improve the nursing plan and improve the quality of life of patients at home., Materials and Methods: We selected 180 patients at home with NPC after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (90 patients each). The experimental group featured intervention with an NPC home nursing plan, while the control group was given routine discharge and outpatient review. Nursing intervention for patients was mainly achieved by regular telephone follow-up and home visits. We use the quality of life scale (QOL-C30), anxiety scale (SAS) and depression scale (SDS) to evaluate these patients before intervention, and during follow-up at 1 month and 3 months after the intervention., Results: Overall health and quality of life were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), Emotional function score was significantly higher after intervention (p<0.05), as were cognitive function and social function scores after 3 months of intervention (p<0.05). Scores of fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite and constipation were also significantly different between the two groups (p<0.05). Rates of anxiety and depression after 3 months of intervention were 11.1%, 22.2% and 34.4%, 53.3%, the differences being significant (p<0.05)., Conclusions: NPC home nursing plan could effectively improve overall quality of life, cognitive function, social function (after 3 months) of patients, but improvement regarding body function is not suggested. Fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, appetite, constipation were clearly improved. We should further pursue a personalized, comprehensive measurements for nursing interventions and try to improve the quality of life of NPC patients at home.

Introduction: We aimed to describe current nursing practice and clarify the safest and most effective dose of milk and molasses enemas used to relieve constipation in pediatric patients presenting to a suburban pediatric emergency department., Methods: We surveyed emergency nurses about current practice in administration of milk and molasses enemas. In addition, we identified consecutive patients aged 2 to 17 years with a discharge diagnosis of constipation or abdominal pain between 2009 and 2012. Stable patients were included from the emergency department, in the absence of chronic medical conditions. For each patient, we recorded demographic characteristics, chief complaint, nursing administration technique, stool output, patient tolerance, side effects, amount of enema given, and patient disposition., Results: We identified 500 patients with abdominal pain or constipation, 87 of whom were later excluded. Milk and molasses enemas were found to be effective at relieving constipation in our population, with a success rate averaging 88% in patients given 5 to 6 mL/kg with an institutional guideline maximum of 135 mL. The success rate was found to vary with age, along with the amount of enema given., Discussion: Our nursing survey showed that varying practice exists regarding technique and dosing of milk and molasses enemas. Historical chart review showed that milk and molasses enemas in our emergency department were safe and effective with minimal side effects., (© 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Constipation is a significant problem for many patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Due in part to dietary restrictions it is a common cause of technique failure and poor dialysis efficacy. Both consequences have an economic cost as well as contributing to a poor patient experience., Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether an appropriate daily bowel habit could be achieved through a higher fibre intake, minimal use of laxatives and with no adverse effect on potassium, phosphate and fluid balance., Methods: One hundred and seven patients who had been on PD for at least three months were recruited from seven renal units. They were asked to record daily bowel habits (Bristol Stool Form Scale: BSFS) and laxative use for four weeks. From this group 41 suitable patients with regular laxative use were identified and invited to enter the Intervention stage, Stage 2. Patients were randomised into one of three intervention arms: high fibre supplement (HFS); high fibre diet (HFD) or placebo., Results: During the intervention stage, intake of HFS increased significantly between week 1 and week 4 (p = 0.04) and in the placebo group between week 1 and week 3 (p = 0.02). There was no significant increase in fibre intake for those on the HFD. Laxative dose appeared to decrease in the HFS group (38%) and the HFD group (16%) but these changes were not significant when compared to the placebo., Conclusion: This study has confirmed the prevalence of laxative use amongst patients on PD and shown that fibre use can confer improvements in bowel function without affecting biochemistry., (© 2014 European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association.)

: Constipation may be functional, anatomic, neurologic, obstructive, endocrine, metabolic, or medicinal. This article will review the common presentation of functional constipation, diagnostic criteria, treatment, and management guidelines in pediatric primary care. Implications for nurse practitioners and directions for future research will be discussed.

Aims and Objectives: To investigate patients' bowel symptom experiences and self-care strategies following sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer and the relationship between bowel symptom experiences and the self-care strategies used., Background: Earlier diagnosis of rectal cancer allows for less invasive surgical treatments such as sphincter-saving procedures to be performed. Although a permanent stoma is generally not required, patients experience changes in bowel function following this surgery. However, limited research exists on patients' bowel symptom experiences and the self-care strategies used to manage symptoms following sphincter-saving surgery of rectal cancer., Design: Quantitative descriptive correlational., Methods: A convenience sample of 143 patients aged 30 to over 70 years was used. Data were collected (April 2010-December 2010) using the Illness Perception Questionnaires, the Difficulties of Life Scale and a researcher developed Self-care Strategy Measure. The research was underpinned by the Symptom Management Theory., Findings: Relating to the four most effective self-care strategies used respondents reporting more bowel symptom were more likely to use the self-care strategy proximity/knowing the location of a toilet at all times. Females, respondents with high timeline cyclical scores and respondents with high physiological responses scores were more likely to use protective clothing. Respondents reporting more bowel symptom and with high social responses scores were more likely to use bowel medication. Females were more likely to wear incontinence pads., Conclusion: This research provides insights into the daily bowel symptom experiences of patients following sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer. It demonstrates the range of self-care strategies that individuals use to manage their bowel symptoms and the self-care-strategies that were most effective for them., Relevance to Clinical Practice: Patients should be encouraged to report on-going bowel problems following sphincter-saving surgery for rectal cancer. Supportive care for patients should be comprehensive and tailored to meet individual needs., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims and Objectives: To examine the prevalence and incidence of patient-reported symptoms of constipation in acutely hospitalised medical patients., Background: Constipation is a common medical problem with severe consequences, and most people suffer from constipation at some point in their lives. In the general population, constipation is one of the most common complaints and is a significant personal and public health burden. Alteration in patients' patterns of elimination while in hospital has long been identified as either a potential or an actual problem that requires attention. Knowledge of the prevalence and incidence of constipation during hospitalisation is only sporadic., Design: The study was descriptive and a prospective cohort design was chosen., Methods: The Constipation Assessment Scale was translated into Danish and was used for the assessment of patient-reported bowel function. Five nurses made the assessments at admission to the acute medical ward and three days after admission. Three hundred and seventy-three patients participated in this study., Results: Thirty-nine percent of the patients showed symptoms of constipation at admission. Of the patients who did not have the symptoms at admission, 43% developed the symptoms during the first three days of their stay in hospital. Significantly more of the older patients developed symptoms of moderate constipation. The incidence rate was 143 new cases per 1000 patient days., Conclusions: In this study, symptoms of constipation were common among patients acutely admitted to hospital due to different medical conditions. Symptoms of constipation were also developed during the first three days of the stay in hospital., Relevance to Clinical Practice: The study highlights the need to develop both clinical guidelines towards treating constipation, and preventive measures to ensure that patients do not become constipated while staying in hospital., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This retrospective review considers clinical outcomes of patients following non-surgical management of bowel dysfunction (faecal incontinence and constipation), within a tertiary centre's pelvic floor unit. Between November 2010 and January 2013, 443 patients were entered into a database and the results of their treatment were recorded. To capture the treatment modalities that patients received they were grouped into three categories: defaecatory techniques and/or pelvic floor exercises; dietary advice and/or medication recommendations; rectal irrigation or the use of anal plugs. Patients received a median number of three sessions with a specialist nurse or physiotherapist. After completing a programme of therapy, 81% of patients had an improved St Mark's incontinence score and 75% of patients had an improved Thompson's functional constipation score. Subjective symptom improvement was reported in 78% of patients. The majority of these patients were discharged in 2011 and 2012 and have not required follow-up, suggesting that non-surgical management is effective on a medium-term basis.

Essential facts Up to 30 per cent of children and young people suffer from constipation, which can have a significant emotional impact on them and their families. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says many children and young people experience social, psychological and educational consequences. Constipation is called idiopathic if it cannot be explained by anatomical or physiological abnormalities.