Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

Assessment of the Rectum and Anus

Evaluating the rectum and anus plays a crucial role in conducting a thorough physical examination of the gastrointestinal system. Although it may be uncomfortable and often embarrassing for the patient, it holds immense diagnostic value, particularly in detecting gastrointestinal diseases and abnormalities. This guide will explain how to perform this assessment using inspection and palpation methods.
Rectal Inspection
Begin by inspecting the perianal and anal areas for color, texture, rashes,...

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health History
The initial step in assessing the GI system is obtaining a comprehensive health history. This includes inquiring about the patient's history or presence of problems related to...

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern

Assessing the gastrointestinal (GI) system is a complex process that begins with collecting subjective data. This data, collected through patient interviews, provides crucial insights into the patient's health history, perception patterns, and lifestyle habits, all contributing significantly to GI health.
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:

Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction

Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction

Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management

Irritable Bowel Syndrome III: Medical and Nursing Management

Managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) involves a multifaceted approach, including lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and medication.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation

Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

What If… Caregivers' Subsequent Workforce Participation Was a Measure of Palliative Care Services' Impact? An Hypothesis-Generating Study.

Journal of palliative medicine·2023

Same author

Palliative care symptoms and problems in a culturally and linguistically diverse population: large retrospective cohort study.

BMJ supportive & palliative care·2023

Same author

Regular, low-dose methadone for reducing breathlessness in people experiencing or at risk of neurotoxic effects from morphine: A single-center case series.

Frontiers in medicine·2022

Same author

Current pharmacological strategies for symptomatic reduction of persistent breathlessness - a literature review.

Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy·2022

Same author

Mixed-methods feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of a paramedic-administered breathlessness management intervention for acute-on-chronic breathlessness (BREATHE): study findings.

ERJ open research·2022

Same author

Effect of Regular, Low-Dose, Extended-release Morphine on Chronic Breathlessness in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The BEAMS Randomized Clinical Trial.

JAMA·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: August 18, 2023

Assessing constipation in palliative care within a gastroenterology framework.

Katherine Clark¹, David C Currow

¹Department of Palliative Care, Calvary Mater Hospital and The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Katherine.clark@calvarymater.org.au

Palliative Medicine

|July 22, 2011

Summary

Constipation assessment in palliative care differs from gastroenterology guidelines. Modified approaches may improve targeted treatment for patients receiving palliative care.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Published on: August 18, 2023

Area of Science:

Palliative Care Medicine
Gastroenterology
Clinical Assessment

Background:

Constipation is a prevalent and distressing symptom in palliative care.
Current assessment and treatment strategies often fail to provide adequate relief for patients.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current constipation assessment methods in palliative care.
To contrast these with gastroenterology guidelines for resistant constipation.
To propose modifications for tolerable and effective palliative care assessment.

Main Methods:

A non-systematic literature review was conducted.
Searched MEDLINE and CINHAL databases for relevant English-language articles.
Included evidence-based gastroenterology guidelines on constipation assessment and management.

Main Results:

Palliative care constipation assessment relies on self-report, physical exam, and plain abdominal radiographs.
Evidence suggests self-reported symptoms and radiographs have limited utility in identifying causes of constipation.
Gastroenterology guidelines recommend colon transit time and defecation structure assessment for resistant constipation.

Conclusions:

Significant divergence exists between current palliative care and gastroenterology constipation assessment approaches.
Adapting gastroenterology methods may offer a tolerable and targeted approach to constipation palliation.
Further research could lead to improved management strategies for palliative care patients.