title: Constipation: identifying the problem.
abstract: Constipation is a common problem in older age and a costly one, both in terms of treatment and distress caused to patients. This article describes the causes of constipation and outlines various strategies nurses can employ to identify and assess it.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences, Kingston University, St George's Hospital Medical School, Kingston upon Thames.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eberhardie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D009737:Nursing Records; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index