Nonpharmacological Clinical Effective Interventions in Constipation: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Clinical Nursing
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Constipation is a common condition influenced by lifestyle, comorbidities, and medications.
• Nonpharmacological interventions are crucial for managing constipation but evidence is limited.
• Nurses play a key role in implementing and researching these interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify clinically effective nonpharmacological interventions for constipation in adults.
• To synthesize evidence supporting nonpharmacological approaches for constipation management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 12 randomized controlled trials involving adults over 18.
• Methodological quality assessed using Cochrane Collaboration assumptions.
• Reporting followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Main Results:

• Identified effective nonpharmacological interventions: individualized health literacy promotion, dietary and lifestyle education, and abdominal massage.
• These interventions target modifiable risk factors for constipation resolution.
• The review synthesized findings from 12 randomized controlled trials.

Conclusions:

• Nonpharmacological interventions like health education and massage are effective for constipation.
• Evidence supporting these interventions for nursing practice remains scarce.
• Further research is essential to provide robust evidence-based data for clinical practice.