The role of community pharmacists in optimising patient self-management of constipation: an inter-disciplinary consensus view

The objective of this article is to provide up-to-date clinical practice guidance for healthcare professionals, particularly community pharmacists, to assist in the day-to-day management of patients who present with constipation. Here, we discuss typical clinical factors (e.g. symptom duration, warning symptoms and treatment response) that h elp to distinguish whether constipation can be self-managed or if further medical assessment is required. We have also developed screening questions and a patient management algorithm to help pharmacists and pharmacy technicians make appropriate decisions when a patient presents with symptoms of con stipation or requests advice after initiation of OTC medications.
Source: Drugs and Therapy Perspectives - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research