Survey on management of pediatric constipation

The incidence of functional constipation varies across various countries in the world. Its reported incidence among children (0-18 years) ranges from around 05-30%. This range could be due to the use of different diagnostic criteria across the year (ie. ROME III vs ROME IV criteria) as well as the use of different stool criteria (Bristol Stool Scale vs Amsterdam Stool Scale).
International guidelines recommend the use of nutritional management for functional constipation especially in toddlers as compared to a pharmacological approach. In addition, the nutrition formulation for managing this issue varies. It includes various functional ingredients such as partially hydrolyzed, prebiotics, probiotics and milk fat.
The survey aims to understand knowledge and practices among healthcare professionals providing primary care in the participating countries in diagnosing and managing constipation in toddlers; and their preference for optimal nutrition solutions. Thus the purpose of this initiative is to get more insight on the subjects and reported differences if any, among low, middle- and high-income countries; and between two types of healthcare professionals (general practitioners and pediatricians).
This protocol describes a survey using electronic data capture and will follow a non-purposive sampling method. It will be distributed via email or whatsapp stating the link to electronic data capture to relevant healthcare professionals (HCP)s and will allow anonymous responses from the participants. The number of respondents in each country is targeted between 100-200 respondents or 5-10% of the number of HCPs in each country in 5-6 countries, with an estimated total sample of around 1000 respondents.

1. Different diagnostic criteria are used among primary care providers leading to variation in the estimated prevalence.
2. Management of first-choice for constipation in this age group (pharmaceuticals, nutritional or both) varies among participating countries and various primary health care providers.

1 - it''s a cross-sectional survey

not applicable (this is electronic survey among HCPs)