Perceptions and beliefs about etiology, complications and efficacy of general measures in patients with chronic constipation

Authors

Keywords:

constipation, perception, belief, epidemiology, preventive measures

Abstract

Introduction: chronic constipation is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with a considerable prevalence about which there are erroneous beliefs and perceptions.
Objective: to establish the beliefs and perceptions of patients with chronic constipation about its etiology, its complications and the efficacy of general measures.
Methods: a cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study was conducted in a universe of 49 patients with a diagnosis of chronic constipation at the “Felix Lugones Ramirez” General Hospital between 2020 and 2022. The variables age, sex, improvement with treatment, beliefs and perceptions were measured.
Results: patients diagnosed with chronic constipation were mostly female (57.14%), with a mean age of 60.73 years, and 75.51% of patients experienced improvement with treatment. Constipation as a cause of colon cancer (46 patients) and hemorrhoids (41 patients) were the most prevalent beliefs and perceptions, while it is caused by not going to the bathroom every day (eight patients) were the least recognized belief and perception (or both).
Conclusions: chronic constipation is a functional gastrointestinal disorder subject to multiple popular beliefs and perceptions that are not scientifically supported and that is widely related to the occurrence of hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer fundamentally.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Reynaldo Peña Vidal, Hospital General "Felix Lugones Ramírez"

Profesor en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma, Facultad "Celia Sánchez Manduley".

Pedro Rafael Casado Méndez, Hospital General "Capitán Mariano Pérez Bali"

Especialista de I y II Grado en Medicina General Integral. Especialista de I y II Grado en Cirugía General. Máster en Economía de la Salud. Profesor Auxiliar en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma, Facultad "Celia Sánchez Manduley". Investigador Auxiliar.

Anny Maria León Fajardo, Hospital General "Felix Lugones Ramírez"

Profesora en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma, Facultad "Celia Sánchez Manduley".

Rafael Salvador Santos Fonseca, Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Universitario “Celia Sánchez Manduley”

Profesor en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma, Facultad "Celia Sánchez Manduley".

Admir Gonçalves Monteiro, Hospital Nacional "Simão Mendes"

Especialista de I Grado en Medicina General Integral. Especialista de I Grado en Cirugía General.

Fernando Karel Fonseca Sosa, Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Universitario “Celia Sánchez Manduley”

Especialista de I Grado en Medicina General Integral. Especialista de I Grado en Cirugía General. Profesor Asistente en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Granma, Facultad "Celia Sánchez Manduley".

References

1.Bharucha AE, Wald A. Chronic Constipation. Mayo Clin Proc [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];94(11):2340-2357. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6829047/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.01.031

2.Bisht P, Dagar N, Kumar N, Velayutham R, Arumugam S. Potential Targets in Constipation Research: A Review. Curr Drug Targets [Internet]. 2023 [citado 31/03/2023];24(3):247-260. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36503391/. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389450124666221209123541

3.Sundbøll J, Thygesen SK, Veres K, Liao D, Zhao J, Gregersen H, Sørensen HT. Risk of cancer in patients with constipation. Clin Epidemiol [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];11:299–310. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6503315/. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S205957

4.Murillo-Ortiz JP, Monge-Navarro S, Herrera-Quesada A. Estreñimiento crónico: identificación de las causas en una clínica de manejo intestinal. Acta Méd Costarric [Internet]. 2016 [citado 31/03/2023];58(4):166-170. Disponible en: http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0001-60022016000400166&lng=en

5.Soria de la Cruz MJ, Viejo Almanzor A, Ramos Clemente Romero MT. Manejo práctico del estreñimiento crónico del adulto. Segundo escalón terapéutico. RAPD Online [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];42(6):432-437. Disponible en: https://www.sapd.es/revista/2019/42/6/03

6.Serra J, Pohl D, Azpiroz F, Chiarioni G, Ducrotté P, Gourcerol G, et al. European society of neurogastroenterology and motility guidelines on functional constipation in adults. Neurogastroenterol Motil [Internet]. 2020 [citado 31/03/2023];32(2):e13762. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31756783/. https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.13762

7.Bassotti G, Villanacci V, Corsetti M. Exploring Pharmacological Treatments for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in Adults: A Look Back to the Future. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2023 [citado 31/03/2023];12(4):1702. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9959210/. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12041702

8.Valero Soriano M, Carrasco Prats MM, Perán Fernández C, Calero García P, López Morales P, Giménez Francés, C et al. La irrigación transanal como opción terapéutica para los pacientes con incontinencia y estreñimiento crónico severo refractarios a primera línea. Cir Esp [Internet]. 2023 [citado 31/03/2023];101(9):587-593. Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0009739X22003402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ciresp.2022.10.009

9.Bharucha AE, Lacy BE. Mechanisms, Evaluation, and Management of Chronic Constipation. Gastroenterology [Internet]. 2020 [citado 31/03/2023];158(5):1232-1249.e3. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7573977/. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2019.12.034

10.Mearin F, Ciriza C, Mínguez M, Rey E, Mascort JJ, Peña E, et al. Guía de práctica clínica: síndrome del intestino irritable con estreñimiento y estreñimiento funcional en adultos: concepto, diagnóstico y continuidad asistencial. (Parte 1 de 2). Aten Primaria [Internet]. 2017 [citado 31/03/2023];49(1):42–55. Disponible en: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0212656716304553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aprim.2016.11.003

11.Benítez González Y, Verdecia Ramírez M. Constipación y cáncer de colon. CCM [Internet]. 2017 [citado 31/03/2023];21(4):1189-1193. Disponible en: http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1560-43812017000400019&lng=es

12.Power AM, Talley NJ, Ford AC. Association between constipation and colorectal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Am J Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2013 [citado 31/03/2023];108(6):894–903. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23481143/. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2013.52

13.Staller K, Olén O, Söderling J, Roelstraete B, Törnblom H, Song M. Chronic Constipation as a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer: Results From a Nationwide, Case-Control Study. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol [Internet]. 2022 [citado 31/03/2023];20(8):1867-1876.e2. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9018894/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2021.10.024

14.Fatmawati E, Nusi IA, Setiawan PB, Purbayu H, Sugihartono T, Maimunah U, et al. Chronic Constipation Management in Adults [Internet]. En: Proceedings of Surabaya International Physiology Seminar (SIPS 2017). Surabaya: SCITEPREES- Science and Technology Publications, Lda.; 2017 [citado 31/03/2023]. p.397-404. Disponible en: https://repository.unair.ac.id/92004/2/13.%20chronic%20constipation.pdf

15.Silva Potengy de Mello MR, Fernandes Moura S, Drumond Muzi C, Mendonça Guimarães R. Clinical evaluation and pattern of symptoms in colorectal cancer patients. Arq Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2020 [citado 31/03/2023];57(2):131–136. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32401950/. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-2803.202000000-24

16.Margetis N. Pathophysiology of internal hemorrhoids. Ann Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];32(3):264–272. Disponible en: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6479658/. https://doi.org/10.20524/aog.2019.0355

17.Díaz Mogollón A, Otero Regino W, Otero Parra L. Creencias y percepciones de los pacientes con estreñimiento crónico sobre etiología, complicaciones y eficacia de las medidas generales. Una encuesta en consulta externa de gastroenterología. Rev Colomb Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2018 [citado 31/03/2023];33(4):361-365. Disponible en: https://www.redalyc.org/journal/3377/337758126002/html/. https://doi.org/10.22516/25007440.311

18.Aziz I, Whitehead WE, Palsson OS, Törnblom H, Simrén M. An approach to the diagnosis and management of Rome IV functional disorders of chronic constipation. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol [Internet]. 2020 [citado 31/03/2023];14(1):39-46. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31893959/. https://doi.org/10.1080/17474124.2020.1708718

19.Fathallah N, Bouchard D, de Parades V. Diet and lifestyle rules in chronic constipation in adults: From fantasy to reality... Presse Med [Internet]. 2017 [citado 31/03/2023];46(1):23-30. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28065611/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lpm.2016.03.019

20.Christodoulides S, Dimidi E, Fragkos KC, Farmer AD, Whelan K, Scott SM. Systematic review with meta-analysis: effect of fibre supplementation on chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. Aliment Pharmacol Ther [Internet]. 2016 [citado 31/03/2023];44(2):103-116. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27170558/. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.13662

21.Gao R, Tao Y, Zhou C, Li J, Wang X, Chen L, et al. Exercise therapy in patients with constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Scand J Gastroenterol [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];54(2):169-177. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30843436/. https://doi.org/10.1080/00365521.2019.1568544

22.Maleki BH, Tartibian B, Mooren FC, FitzGerald LZ, Krüger K, Chehrazi M, et al. Low-to-moderate intensity aerobic exercise training modulates irritable bowel syndrome through antioxidative and inflammatory mechanisms in women: results of a randomized controlled trial. Cytokine [Internet]. 2018 [citado 31/03/2023];102:18–25. Disponible en: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29274540/. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2017.12.016

23.Maldonado González AL, González Gaudiano EJ, Cajigal Molina E. Representaciones sociales y creencias epistemológicas. Conceptos convergentes en la investigación social. Cultura Representaciones Soc [Internet]. 2019 [citado 31/03/2023];13(26):412-432. Disponible en: https://www.ceiba.org.mx/publicaciones/edgarGonzalez/2019Alrepresentacionessocialescreenciasepistemologicas.pdf. https://doi.org/10.28965/2019-26-15

Downloads

Published

2023-10-31

How to Cite

1.
Peña Vidal R, Casado Méndez PR, León Fajardo AM, Santos Fonseca RS, Gonçalves Monteiro A, Fonseca Sosa FK. Perceptions and beliefs about etiology, complications and efficacy of general measures in patients with chronic constipation. Acta Méd Centro [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 31 [cited 2025 Jun. 25];17(4):753-62. Available from: https://revactamedicacentro.sld.cu/index.php/amc/article/view/1871

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 4 (2023): Octubre-Diciembre

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who have publications with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors will retain their copyright and assign to the journal the right of first publication of their work, which will simultaneously be subject to a Creative Commons License / Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) that allows third parties to share the work as long as its author and first publication in this journal are indicated.
  2. Authors may adopt other non-exclusive license agreements for distribution of the published version of the work (e.g., depositing it in an institutional repository or publishing it in a monographic volume) as long as the initial publication in this journal is indicated.
  3. Authors are allowed and encouraged to disseminate their work through the Internet (e.g., in institutional telematic archives or on their web page) before and during the submission process, which can produce interesting exchanges and increase citations of the published work. (See The effect of open access).