Constipation
What You’ll Learn
- Describe the impact of constipation on quality of life for the patient with serious illness
- Identify best practices to assess and diagnose constipation in the patient with serious illness
- Explain the relationship between opioids and constipation
- Develop strategies to reduce the physical and emotional suffering caused by constipation
What You’ll Earn
After completing the course, you’ll earn a Verification of Attendance certificate.
Only CAPC members who are logged in can earn the following free Continuing Education Credits:
- Case Management: 1.00 CE
- Medicine: 0.75 CME, 0.75 ABIM MOC (Medical Knowledge Only)
- Nursing: 1.00 CNE, 0.60 Pharmacotherapy
- Social Work: 1.00 CE (NYSED)
- Social Work: 1.00 CE (NASW)
This course is open-to-all at no cost.
StartTake the course
Download your certificate
Tools & Resources
Medications and dosing guidance for stimulant and osmotic laxatives. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2017.
Key terms related to symptom management. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2017.
Course citations. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2015.
Validated 5-question assessment tool designed to predict which patients are at risk for opioid substance use disorder.
Mechanisms of constipation and best approaches to treatment.
Non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches to managing opioid-induced constipation.
Treating opioid-induced constipation, including how and when to use newer therapies.
Course Faculty
Drew Rosielle, MD, FAAHPM. Palliative Care, Fairview Health Services, University of Minnesota Medical School.
Lolita Melhado, MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC. Family Nurse Practitioner/Palliative Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center - Lee Memorial Health System.
Philip Higgins, PhD, LICSW. President, Lighthouse Counseling of Salem, Inc.
Peer Reviewers
Amy Case, MD, FAAHPM. Associate Professor of Oncology, Chair, Department of Supportive Care.*
Melissa Bakar, MD. Assistant Professor, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.*
Linda Pang, MD. Fellow, Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
*indicates ABIM Peer Reviewer
Contact information: For technical questions about online activity or continuing education credits, contact membership@capc.org or 212-201-2674.

Provided by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.