Constipation in childhood Digestive System Constipation
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention participants received the nurse-led design of care where the first appointment took place in a special hospital constipation clinic in conjunction with a general paediatrician with a spec
explanation was given that constipation should be treated as a chronic condition like asthma which can be managed but seldom cured
the problem was reframed in terms of small steps to be taken including sitting on the toilet after an evening meal for 5-10 minutes and using blowing bubbles or blowing up balloons to help stools pass
the patient was examined by a consultant paediatrician, laxatives were prescribed if required
and finally the parent and child were asked about their understanding of their role as trainer and compliant co-worker respectively and the nurse?s role as remote mentor. The parents and child were in
Sponsors
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Children had to be aged 0-13 years and referred by their General Practitioner. 2. They had to be resident in postcode areas covered by NHS Greater Glasgow Health Board boundaries 3. The main complaint on the GP letter had to be constipation and/or soiling
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Referrals from secondary or tertiary care or from other health care workers other than general practitioners
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Resolution of symptoms 16 weeks after first appointment measured as positive if ?frequency of stools was 3 or greater in the last week? for all children and ?no accidents had occurred outside the toilet pan in the last week? for children greater than 4 years. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Parent satisfaction with the service. Parent satisfaction was measured as the average over 12 questions on Likert scales of 1-5 where 1 was always the most positive and 5 the most negative. 2. Pain passing stools 3. Withholding of stools in the last week 4. Still on medication (after 16 weeks) 5. Better than before treatment | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed