• To recognise the reasons why people with intellectual disabilities may be at increased risk of constipation and related complications
• To enhance your awareness of what is involved in the prevention, assessment and management of constipation in people with intellectual disabilities
• To understand the importance of adopting a holistic, integrated and person-centred approach to address constipation in people with intellectual disabilities
Constipation is a common condition that can have significant adverse effects on people’s psychological well-being and quality of life. Chronic constipation is associated with various burdensome symptoms and may lead to serious health issues, such as faecal impaction and bowel obstruction. People with intellectual disabilities may be at increased risk of constipation for several reasons, including side effects of medicines, suboptimal diet and limited mobility.
This article outlines the causes and risk factors that can lead to constipation in people with intellectual disabilities. It discusses the prevention, assessment and management of this condition, emphasising the need for a holistic, integrated and person-centred approach. The article also uses a fictional case study to illustrate how such an approach could be applied in practice and to demonstrate the role of nurses in addressing constipation in people with intellectual disabilities.
Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2020.e2067
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Horan P, Cleary M, Fleming S et al (2020) Preventing, assessing and managing constipation in people with intellectual disabilities. Learning Disability Practice. doi: 10.7748/ldp.2020.e2067
Published online: 13 August 2020
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