Perceptions of and Practices for the Management of Constipation: Results of a Korean National Survey

초록

Background/Aims: Although guidelines exist regarding the evaluation and management of pa-tients with chronic constipation (CC), little is known about real-world clinical practice patterns. This study aimed to evaluate the various practices used to manage CC patients in various clinical settings in South Korea.Methods: A nationwide web-based survey was conducted, randomly selecting gastroenterolo-gists and non-gastroenterologists. The 25-item questionnaire included physicians' perceptions and practices regarding the available options for diagnosing and managing CC patients in Korea.Results: The study participants comprised 193 physicians (86 gastroenterologists, 44.6%) in-volved in the clinical management of CC patients. The mean clinical experience was 12 years. Only 21 of 193 respondents (10.9%) used the Rome criteria when diagnosing CC. The Bristol Stool Form Scale was used by 29% of the respondents (56/193), while the digital rectal examina-tion was performed by 11.9% of the respondents (23/193). Laboratory testing and colonoscopies were performed more frequently by gastroenterologists than by non-gastroenterologists (both p=0.001). Physiologic testing was used more frequently by gastroenterologists (p=0.046), phy-sicians at teaching hospitals, and physicians with clinical experience & LE;10 years (both p<0.05). There were also significant differences in the preference for laxatives depending on the type of hospital.Conclusions: There were discrepancies in the diagnosis and management of CC patients de-pending on the clinical setting. The utilization rates of the Bristol Stool Form Scale and digital rectal examination by physicians are low in real-world clinical practice. These results imply the need for better and more practical training of physicians in the assessment and management of CC. (Gut Liver, Published online July 17, 2023)

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