Review of the literature on constipation to enable development of a constipation risk assessment scale

Abstract

Introduction: Constipation presents as a perpetual problem in health-care with painful and debilitating consequences, however it is frequently preventable. A prerequisite to prevention is assessment of risk of a condition occurring so that interventions can be individualised in an attempt to prevent it. On analysis of published literature no objective comprehensive risk assessment tools for constipation were found.

Study purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to identify and analyse risk factors for constipation recognised by previous empirical research. This enabled subsequent work to be performed to develop a risk assessment tool for constipation that could be used in clinical practice.

Literature review: The literature search identified potential risk factors for constipation. These risk factors were systematically analysed and justification was provided for the risk factors' inclusion to or exclusion from the risk assessment instrument that was subsequently developed.

Conclusion: The study appears to be the first within health-related literature that has extracted the risk factors for constipation from previous empirical research. This groundwork led the way for the subsequent development of a comprehensive objective tool to assess risk for constipation.