Unblocking the problem: a guide to constipation in the community setting – Certificate of Completion

Identify potential causes of secondary constipation, including lifestyle factors, disease-mediated factors and drug-induced constipation.
Recognise “red flag” features of constipation that require referral to the patient’s general practitioner.
Recognise how comorbidities, medications and lifestyle factors influence bowel activity in different patient populations, and outline various treatment options suitable for different patient groups, including paediatric, peri-natal and older patients.
Recall the mechanism of action of different treatments for constipation, their side effects and how they impact on tolerability and adherence over the short and long term.
Differentiate the different treatments available to the constipated patient, by outlining the differences between mechanisms of action of aperients.