Complementary Therapies for Ongoing Treatment/Maintenance in Children with Chronic Idiopathic Constipation

Bibliographic InformationStudy Type & Evidence LevelNumber of PatientsPatient CharacteristicsIntervention & ComparisonFollow-up & Outcome MeasuresEffect SizeReviewer Comments
Bishop et al. Reflexology in the management of encopresis and chronic constipation. 2003. Paediatric Nursing 15[3], 20-21Study Type:
Prospective case series

Evidence level:
3

Study aim:
To investigate the efficacy of treating patients with encopresis and chronic constipation with reflexology		50 children

Inclusion criteria:
Children diagnosed with encopresis / chronic constipation

Exclusion criteria:
Not stated		50 children

age range 3 to 14 years

64% boys

Country:
UK		Intervention:
Reflexology:
6 sessions , 30 minutes each at weekly intervals (no other details provided)

Comparison:
N.A		Duration of treatment
6 weeks

Assessment point (s):
Immediately after treatment was completed

Follow-up period:
No follow-up made after treatment finished

Outcome Measures:
-

soiling frequency

-

frequency of bowel movements (BM)

-

parents' attitude towards reflexology

Soiling frequency (n=48) % children
-

Before:

  • at least daily: 78
    1 to 3 times/week: 16
    no soiling/week: 6
-

After:

  • at least daily: 20
    1 to 3 times/week: 30
    no soiling/week: 48

p<0.05 (unclear for which comparisons)

Frequency of bowel movements (BM)(n=48) % children
-

Before:

  • No BM/week: 36
    1 to 4 BMs/week: 46
    daily BMs: 18
-

After:

  • No BM/week: 2
    1 to 4 BMs/week: 72
    daily BMs: 24

p<0.05 (unclear for which comparisons)

Parents' attitude towards reflexology
70% parents keen to try treatment, 72% satisfied with outcome		Additional information from study:
With the help of their parents, children completed questionnaires on bowel motions and soling patterns before, during and after treatment

Parents completed questionnaires on their attitude towards reflexology

Existing medications were unaltered

2 children only attended the first session

Reviewer comments:
No definition of constipation/encopresis given

Questionnaire not reported as piloted

Results not controlled for potential confounders

Baseline outcomes for the 2 children who only attended the first session were reported but it is unclear whether they were included in the analysis

Source of funding: Not stated

From: Appendix J, Evidence tables

Cover of Constipation in Children and Young People
Constipation in Children and Young People: Diagnosis and Management of Idiopathic Childhood Constipation in Primary and Secondary Care.
NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 99.
National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (UK).
London: RCOG Press; 2010.
Copyright © 2010, National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health.

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