Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31868574›Full record

ArticlePalliative medicine2020

'Take more laxatives was their answer to everything': A qualitative exploration of the patient, carer and healthcare professional experience of constipation in specialist palliative care.

Felicity Hasson, Deborah Muldrew, Emma Carduff, Anne Finucane, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Phil Larkin, Noleen Mccorry, Paul Slater, Sonja McIlfatrick

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Palliative medicine, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04501263 (Developing an Testing an Educational Intervention for the Management of Constipation for People With Advanced Cancer), which is not on this map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04501263 completednot on this map

Developing an Testing an Educational Intervention for the Management of Constipation for People With Advanced Cancer: a Feasibility Intervention Study (DEMCON)

TypeobservationalSponsorUniversity of UlsterRan2018 to 2020Enrolled58ConditionsConstipationArmsDEMCoN Educational Intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Felicity HassonUlster University, Newtownabbey, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8200-9732
Deborah MuldrewUlster University, Newtownabbey, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2845-1922
Emma CarduffMarie Curie Hospice, Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Anne FinucaneMarie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3056-059X
Lisa Graham-WisenerQueen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
Phil LarkinUniversity of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Noleen MccorryQueen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8542-7665
Paul SlaterUlster University, Newtownabbey, UK.
Sonja McIlfatrickUlster University, Newtownabbey, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-1010-4300

Funding

Marie Curie MCCC-RP-16-A20993
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundConstipation is a major problem for many older adults, more so for those who are receiving specialist palliative care. However, limited research reports the subjective experiences of constipation, despite evidenced differences between the healthcare professional and patient/carer perspective.

aimThe main aim of this study is to explore the experience of how constipation is assessed and managed within specialist palliative care from the patient, carer and healthcare professional perspective.

designExploratory, qualitative design, utilising focus groups and interviews, and analysed using thematic analysis. SETTING/

participantsSix focus groups with 27 healthcare professionals and semi-structured interviews with 13 patients and 5 family caregivers in specialist palliative care units across three regions of the United Kingdom.

resultsConstipation impacted physically, psychologically and socially on patients and families; however, they felt staff relegated it on the list of importance. Lifestyle modifications implemented at home were not incorporated into their specialist palliative care plan within the hospice. Comparatively, healthcare professionals saw constipation solely as a physical symptom. Assessment focused on the physical elements of constipation, and management was pharmacologically driven. Healthcare professionals reported patient embarrassment as a barrier to communicating about bowel care, whereas patients wanted staff to initiate communication and discuss constipation openly.

conclusionAssessment and management of constipation may not yet reflect the holistic palliative care model. A focus on the pharmacological management may result in lifestyle modifications being underutilised. Healthcare professionals also need to be open to initiate communication on bowel care and consider non-pharmacological approaches. It is important that patients and families are supported in self-care management, alongside standardised guidelines for practice and for healthcare professionals to facilitate this.

Indexed as

CaregiversLaxativesAgedConstipationDelivery of Health CareHumansPalliative CareQualitative ResearchUnited KingdomLaxativesConstipationhospicepalliative carequalitative researchquality of caresymptom management

Identifiers

PMID31868574
PMCPMC7388148

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.