Abstract
Background: Constipation is one of the most common symptoms in patients receiving specialist palliative care (SPC), contributing to considerable physical and psychological suffering for patients. Whilst clinical guidelines are available on the management of constipation for people with advanced cancer in specialist palliative care (SPC) settings, the implementation of these guidelines in clinical practice is unclear.
Aim: To examine current clinical management of constipation for patients with advanced cancer in SPC settings.
Methods: A multi-site retrospective case-note review was undertaken, consisting of 150 patient case-notes from three SPC units across the United Kingdom between August 2016 and May 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to compare clinical practices across three SPC sites.
Results: A physical exam and bowel history was recorded for 109 patients (73%). Site variations were most evident in multidisciplinary team level of involvement in assessment, patient education, non-pharmacological strategies, and management strategies for opioid induced constipation and bowel obstruction. Ninety-six percent of case notes recorded pharmacological interventions compared to 73% recording lifestyle alterations. Sodium docusate and Senna were the preferred laxatives across all sites, however, 33% of patient charts recorded no information on the titration of laxatives.
Conclusion: Variations in assessment and management strategies were evident across sites. Further education is needed to equip HCPs with the necessary knowledge and skills to assess and manage constipation. More focus is required on the implementation and recording of non-pharmacological approaches to management.
Funder: Marie Curie
Aim: To examine current clinical management of constipation for patients with advanced cancer in SPC settings.
Methods: A multi-site retrospective case-note review was undertaken, consisting of 150 patient case-notes from three SPC units across the United Kingdom between August 2016 and May 2017. Descriptive statistics were used to compare clinical practices across three SPC sites.
Results: A physical exam and bowel history was recorded for 109 patients (73%). Site variations were most evident in multidisciplinary team level of involvement in assessment, patient education, non-pharmacological strategies, and management strategies for opioid induced constipation and bowel obstruction. Ninety-six percent of case notes recorded pharmacological interventions compared to 73% recording lifestyle alterations. Sodium docusate and Senna were the preferred laxatives across all sites, however, 33% of patient charts recorded no information on the titration of laxatives.
Conclusion: Variations in assessment and management strategies were evident across sites. Further education is needed to equip HCPs with the necessary knowledge and skills to assess and manage constipation. More focus is required on the implementation and recording of non-pharmacological approaches to management.
Funder: Marie Curie
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Palliative Medicine |
| Issue number | EAPC Abstracts |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 21 May 2019 |
| Event | 16th World Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care - Estrel Conference Centre, Berlin, Germany Duration: 23 May 2019 → 25 May 2019 |
