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CME: Current and Emerging Strategies in the Treatment of Chronic Constipation (CC) in Adults

ACCREDITATION EXPIRED: August 26, 2017

Activity Description / Statement of Need:

In this online CME self-learning program:

 

Chronic constipation is a clinical condition comprised of myriad etiologies and subgroups that affects between 14 and 28 percent of the U.S. population.  Not only is it prevalent, but it is also expensive; it results in anywhere between two and a half and seven million healthcare visits each year at a cost of $29 billion. In spite of its widespread impact, it is thought to be underreported due to social perceptions and lack of a clear-cut definition for constipation. Once the etiology of the complaint, or lack thereof, has been determined, the clinician may select an appropriate therapeutic approach.  Initial management usually involves dietary changes, patient education, laxatives and enemas.  If those treatment options fail, then manual disimpaction, suppositories, behavioral approaches including biofeedback, and surgical intervention may be considered.  There are also a number of new medical therapies in clinical investigation or that have recently been approved whose place in therapy is still being determined.

 

This program has been designed to update healthcare professionals’ knowledge of chronic constipation and to optimize their competence in treating it. Agenda:

 

Introduction, Disclosures

Challenges

  • Epidemiology

Clinical Features of chronic constipation

  • Differences in perception
  • Rome III criteria
  • Secondary causes of constipation
  • Constipation: primary causes
  • IBS-C vs. chronic constipation: symptoms
  • Pathophysiology of chronic constipation
  • Complications and comorbidities
  • Evaluation of constipation
  • DRE-protocol

Management strategies

General measures

Specific therapy

Conventional therapy

Treatment satisfaction in chronic constipation

Dried plums: a randomized controlled trial

Lubiprostone

Linaclotide

Prucalopride

Probiotics

  • What is dysynergia?
  • High-definition manometry
  • Biofeedback
  • Patient cases
  • Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction
  • Effect of methylnaltrexone
  • Constipation in the hospitalized patient

Take home points

Target Audience:

Healthcare professionals specializing in colon and rectal surgery, family medicine, internal medicine, gastroenterology, oncology, pain management, palliative care, primary care, proctology, and other clinicians who commonly treat patients suffering from chronic constipation.

This program is supported by an educational grant from Forest Laboratories

Release Date: August 26, 2013 -- Expiration Date: August 26, 2017

Faculty: Satish Rao,

Agenda

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session the participant will be able to:

  • List the potential causes of chronic constipation in patients.
  • Describe challenges to the successful management of chronic constipation.
  • Identify the treatment modalities currently available for management of chronic constipation and apply them to patient cases using evidence-based medicine.
  • Develop strategies to minimize adverse effects associated with treatment of chronic constipation and optimize adherence to therapy

Accreditation

ACCREDITATION FOR THIS COURSE HAS EXPIRED. YOU MAY VIEW THE PROGRAM, BUT CME / CE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE AND NO CERTIFICATE WILL BE ISSUED.


Faculty Disclosure and Resolution of COI

 As a provider of continuing medical education, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. In accordance with this policy, faculty and educational planners must disclose any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in faculty presentations, and any relationships with the commercial supporter of the activity. The intent of this disclosure is to provide the intended audience with information on which they can make their own judgments. Additionally, in the event a conflict of interest (COI) does exist, it is the policy of ScientiaCME to ensure that the COI is resolved in order to ensure the integrity of the CME activity. For this CME activity, any COI has been resolved thru content review ScientiaCME.

 

Faculty Disclosure:  Satish Rao, MD, PhD has received grant funding and/or consulting income and/or speaker's bureau income from SmartPill Corp., Forest Laboratories, AMS, AstraZeneca, Ironwood Pharma., Asubiu Pharma.

 

Disclosures of Educational Planners: Charles Turck, PharmD has no relevant financial disclosures.

 

Commercial Support Disclosure: This program is supported by an educational grant from Forest Laboratories

Instructions

  • Read the learning objectives above
  • Take the Pre-Test (optional). Completion of the pre-test will help us evaluate the knowledge gained by participating in this CME activity.
  • View the online activity. You may view this is in more than one session, and may pause or repeat any portion of the presentation if you need to.
  • Minimum participation threshold: Take the post-test. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass and proceed to the activity evaluation.
  • Complete the activity evaluation and CME registration. A CE certificate will be emailed to you immediately.

Cultural/Linguistic Competence & Health Disparities

System Requirements

PC
Windows 7 or above
Internet Explorer 8
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
MAC
Mac OS 10.2.8
Safari or Chrome or Firefox
*Adobe Acrobat Reader
Internet Explorer is not supported on the Macintosh

*Required to view Printable PDF Version

Perform Pre-Test (optional)

Please take a few minutes to participate in the optional pre-test. It will help us measure the knowledge gained by participating in this activity.