Patient and carer education in the management of constipation with a view of reducing unnecessary admissions

Abstract

Constipation is a significant health care issue, especially in high-risk groups such as the elderly, patients with psychiatric problems, institutionalised individuals and those with decreased mobility. As indicated from this audit, in 2021, an estimated 2.5% of general surgery admissions were due to constipation. A significant number of patients were being admitted to the inpatient service with a diagnosis of ‘constipation’ for which the majority had no neurological or anatomical cause. Thus, these patients would be defined as having ‘functional constipation’ (FC) as per Rome Criteria. Additionally, different therapeutic regimens were noted to have been used in several primary health care facilities and elderly homes to treat constipation. Such regimens were not standardised and evidently, ineffective. As a result of the lack of standardised management, there was inadequate use of health care resources giving rise to admissions. Treatment that could have occurred at primary health centres or else in the community was being given in hospital instead. Financial and hospital resources, patient discomfort, patient risk and inaccurate information relayed to the patient are all in play when it comes to unstandardised medical management.