Constipation, treatment and biofeedback therapy.
Constipation is commonly encountered by the community nurse, particularly in older people. A comprehensive assessment is required prior to treatment, to exclude potential pathologies such as a bowel cancer. There are many potential causes of constipation, such as poor diet or use of opioid analgesia. This can guide the nurse to a potential treatment, for example to include more fibre in the diet or to possibly change the analgesia used. However if these and/or other therapies fail, biofeedback therapy offers a non-surgical option. Biofeedback therapy includes patient education, retraining of the bowels and muscles, behavioural therapies and psychological support.
St Mark's Hospital, Middlesex.
Brigitte
B
Collins
Jennie
J
Burch
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D003248:Constipation / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010353:Patient Education as Topic