|
 |
J Clin Outcomes Manage
2007 Jul;14(7):411-420
Evaluation and management of chronic constipation in clinical practice
Wald A
Program Audience Primary care physicians. Educational Needs Addressed Constipation is a prevalent condition that disproportionately affects women and older adults. It accounted for approximately 38,000 hospital visits and 5.7 million office visits, mostly to primary care physicians, in 2001. Many patients with constipation are able to self-treat with over-the-counter laxatives and fiber supplements; however, in some cases, constipation may become debilitating and unresponsive to these interventions, resulting in medical consultation. It also has been shown to impair health-related quality of life. As primary care physicians play a key role in managing patients with constipation, it is important that they be familiar with diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for this disorder. Educational Objectives After participating in this CME activity, primary care physicians should be able to 1. Describe the diagnostic tests recommended for the evaluation of chronic constipation 2. Discuss effective therapies for chronic constipation 3. State the tests used in the workup of patients who do not respond to conservative therapy 4. Identify which patients with chronic constipation should be referred to a gastroenterologist for further evaluation
Case-Based Review, CME
Search the Turner White index to find abstracts of articles published in JCOM.
|
