Constipation services for children: the role of health visitor teams

• DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2006.15.4.20543
• Publication Date: 2014-05-23T14:18:56Z
• Authors: Denise Smith; Sarah Derrett
• Keywords: Dietary Fiber; Male; Parents; Patient Care Team; Health Services Needs and Demand; Attitude of Health Personnel; Child Health Services; Aftercare; Infant; Child Nutrition Sciences; Community Health Nursing; Nurse's Role; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Nursing Evaluation Research; Child, Preschool; Critical Pathways; Humans; Female; Nursing Staff; Family Practice; Constipation

Constipation among children is a prevalent condition, yet poorly understood. There is little empirical evidence for ‘best possible’ configurations of services. This article presents a survey of Walsall health visitor team members (HVTMs) which aimed to identify the types of advice and care provided to young children with constipation, pathways to care and ideas for service improvement. Most HVTM consultations were parent-initiated. Few GPs referred children to HVTMs. HVTMs most commonly provided advice about fluids and diet – only one prescribed medication. HVTMs identified the need for early intervention, consistent information for parents and a clear pathway for all health professionals to follow. Currently, a team from the local primary and hospital NHS trusts is developing an integrated care pathway for paediatric constipation. Success of such pathways depends on their adoption by GPs and hospital-based health professionals, and on evidence of efficacy arising from their evaluation.