Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42159193›Full record

GuidelineJournal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition2026

European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition/North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines for treatment of functional constipation in children aged 0-18 years.

Morris Gordon, Anna de Geus, Mary Boruta, Marcin Banasiuk, Marc Benninga, Osvaldo Borrelli, Anil Darbari, Dawn Dore-Stites, Michelle Gould, Juliette Hawa and 8 more

Abstract readPractice Guideline
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Guideline in Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Guideline
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

18 authors.

Morris GordonSchool of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1216-5158
Anna de GeusAmsterdam UMC, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2282-0128
Mary BorutaDepartment of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Marcin BanasiukDepartment of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland.
Marc BenningaAmsterdam UMC, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Osvaldo BorrelliGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.
Anil DarbariChildren's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Dawn Dore-StitesDivision of Pediatric Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Michelle GouldDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Juliette HawaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.
Kirsten JonesDepartment of Clinical Nutrition and Lactation, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Alexandra KilgoreDepartment of Pediatrics, Digestive Health Institute, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Colorado, Aurora, USA.
Hayat MousaDivision of Gastroenterology, Lustgarten Motility Center, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Samuel NurkoCenter for Motility and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Nikhil ThaparQueensland Children's Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Julie KhlevnerDivision of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
Vasiliki SinopoulouSchool of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
Merit TabbersAmsterdam UMC, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Funding

ESPGHANNASPGHAN
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesFunctional constipation (FC) is common in childhood, significantly impacting quality of life. Since the 2014 international guideline, new evidence has been published, and methods on making guidelines have developed. This treatment guideline for FC in children aged 0-18 years is a collaborative effort of the European and North American Societies for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN). The aim was to deliver evidence-based recommendations applicable across all treatment settings worldwide and offer methodological guidance for future research.

methodsThe guideline development followed the "Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation" (GRADE) approach. The Guideline Development Group (GDG) comprised clinical experts, representing ESPGHAN, NASPGHAN and Cochrane. Prospectively agreed-upon treatments were formatted into "patient, intervention, comparison, outcome" questions. The GDG also determined decision thresholds for efficacy and safety outcomes through a Delphi process to support grading of the literature. Final recommendations were established by consensus voting, and a treatment algorithm was developed.

resultsA total of 102 original randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing treatment of FC in children aged 0-18 years were identified. Consensus was reached for 11 GRADE recommendations. Nineteen good practice statements were formulated, and guidance for future research methodology was proposed.

conclusionsThis guideline is the result of a collaborative effort between ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN on treatment options for FC. Systematic review of the evidence has revealed major evidence gaps for commonly used treatments for FC and highlights the need for large pediatric RCTs, particularly on treatment options with no evidence or only very low certainty evidence.

Indexed as

ConstipationAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolEuropeEvidence-Based MedicineGastroenterologyHumansInfantInfant, NewbornNorth AmericaRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicSocieties, Medicaldisorders of gut brain interactiongastroenterologypediatrictherapeutic management

Identifiers

PMID42159193
PMCPMC13446596

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.