Follow-up in Childhood Functional Constipation: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial.
OBJECTIVE
Guidelines recommend close follow-up during the treatment of childhood functional constipation. Only sparse evidence exists on how follow-up is best implemented. Our aim was to evaluate whether follow-up by phone or self-management through Web-based information improved treatment outcomes.


METHODS
In this randomized controlled trial, conducted in secondary care, 235 children, ages 2 to 16 years, who fulfilled the Rome III criteria of childhood constipation, were assigned to 1 of the 3 follow-up regimens: control group (no scheduled contact), phone group (2 scheduled phone contacts), and Web group (access to Web-based information).


METHODS
number of successfully treated children after 3, 6, and 12 months.


RESULTS
phone contacts, relapse, fecal incontinence, and laxative use.


RESULTS
After 3 and 6 months, significantly more children in the Web group (79.7%/75.9%) were successfully treated compared with the control and phone groups (59.7%/63.6% and 63.3%/64.6%) (P = 0.007/P = 0.03). No difference was found after 12 months (control, 72.7%; phone, 68.4%; Web group, 78.5%; P = 0.40). Extra phone consultations were significantly more frequent in the Web group (44.3%) compared with the control group (28.6%) (P = 0.04). Before 3 months, 45.5% of phone consultations were completed in the Web group versus 28.8% and 25.8% in the control and phone groups (P = 0.05/P = 0.02). Relapses, fecal incontinence, and laxative use were not different between interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved self-management behavior caused by access to self-motivated Web-based information induced faster short-term recovery during the treatment of functional constipation. Patient empowerment rather than health care-promoted follow-up may be a step toward more effective treatment for childhood constipation.
*Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Lillebaelt, Kolding †Department of Pediatrics, Aaarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Line
L
Modin
Anne-Mette
AM
Walsted
Charlotte S
CS
Rittig
Anne V
AV
Hansen
Marianne S
MS
Jakobsen
D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D003718:Denmark; D004064:Digestive System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012648:Self Care; D013689:Telephone
D054368:Laxatives