Pharmaceutical care in patients with constipation from the pharmacy

• Autores: Pablo López Veiga, Juana Benedí González, Irene Iglesias Peinado
• Localización: European journal of clinical pharmacy: atención farmacéutica, ISSN 2385-409X, Vol. 18, Nº. 4, 2016, págs. 244-254
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Introduction: Constipation is one of the most common chronic digestive disorders mainly due to the lifestyle and diet composition typical of western countries. Considered more as a symptom than a disease, it is a problem that affects women in greater proportions than men, increases with age, and it can be chronic or temporary. The use of laxatives, dietary fiber consumption, and to a lesser extent, the use of probiotics, are the most effective treatment products. The pharmacist in the community pharmacy and primary care doctor are health professionals who advise and prescribe their use.

    Objetives: 1) To analyse the level of knowledge that people have about the use of laxatives and probiotics in relation to their indications and side effects;

    2) Relate lifestyles and possible adverse reactions of drugs used for treatment of chronic diseases with the use of laxatives.

    Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational and multicenter study to patients suffering from temporary or chronic constipation who are using or have used laxatives in the last years, as well as other non-drug products for the treatment of constipation (probiotic food and fiber).

    Results: Most respondents are women (77.6%), over 61 years old (60.6%) and Spanish nationality (89.2%). The main laxatives that are used are cascara extract (15.99%) and ispaghula (35.22%). The pharmacist and primary care doctor are the main source of advice (41.7% and 31.4% respectively). The 89.27% say regularly take dietary fiber, and are vegetables (20.14%) and fruit (19.53%), the most consumed foods. Most of the population claim not to consume probiotics (83.2%), and those who consume them claim it is mainly the pharmacist who advised them.

    Conclusions: Laxatives are the main treatment against constipation, although aspects such as consumption of dietary fiber, the use of probiotics and proper lifestyle are important for treating chronic or temporary constipation