Jointly sponsored by the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME

Target Audience

This activity is designed for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants should be able to:

• Define the prevalence and burden of chronic constipation and the impact on patient quality of life
• Outline the diagnostic criteria for chronic constipation
• Summarize the evidence for the safety and effectiveness of traditional and new approaches to constipation management
• Put into primary care practice current diagnostic and treatment approaches for constipation to maximize outcomes and improve patient quality of life

Statement of Need

Chronic constipation is a frequent gastrointestinal motility disorder estimated to affect up to 28% of the US population, with a significant clinical and economic burden. According to Lucinda Harris, MD, of Mayo Clinic, constipation is more common than several prominent chronic disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, migraine, and sinusitis. In fact, constipation accounted for an estimated 5.7 million healthcare provider visits in 2001, 2.7 million of which concluded with a primary diagnosis of the condition. Education on current approaches to reduce the ongoing burden of chronic constipation is of particular importance in the primary care setting, as 2.1 million of those 2.7 million constipation diagnoses occurred in the outpatient setting.

As evidence continues to emerge regarding the frequent presentation of chronic constipation in the primary care setting and novel treatment approaches, primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants require education on current strategies for the diagnosis and management of the condition to maximize outcomes and improve patient quality of life.

Credit Eligibility

To be eligible for documentation of credit, participants must participate in the full educational activity, complete the 10-question post-test with a score of 70% or better, and complete the evaluation form. Participants who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form online may immediately print their documentation of credit.

Participants who have successfully completed the live version of this activity are not eligible to receive credit for this enduring material.

Release Date: September 28, 2007; Expiration Date: September 28, 2008

Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

There is no fee associated with this activity.

Lecture Components

The presentation slides, post-test, and evaluation form are available as a click through via the menu at the top of each page of this educational activity.

CME Accreditation (Accepted for Physician Assistants)

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgement while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field. The University requires that speakers disclose significant relationships with commercial companies whose product or services are discussed in educational presentations.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME fully comply with the legal requirements of the American with Disabilities Act and the rules and regulations thereof. If any participant in this educational activity is in need of accommodations, please contact Kristen Jassin at 609-371-1137.

The University of Kentucky is an equal opportunity university.

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

AANP Accreditation

This program has been approved for 1.0 contact hours of continuing education by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Program ID 0705230.

Grant Support

Supported by an educational grant from Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Presenters

Brooks D. Cash, MD, FACP, FACG
Chief, Gastroenterology Division and Colon Health Initiative
Associate Professor of Medicine
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Specialty Leader, Gastroenterology
National Naval Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland

Louis Kuritzky, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Community Health and Family Medicine
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

Independent Clinical Reviewer

Ronnie Fass, MD
Professor of Medicine
University of Arizona
Director, GI Motility Laboratory
University of Arizona Health Sciences Center
Tucson, Arizona

Financial Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

According to the disclosure policy of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity.  All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest.  If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation.
 
All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

The faculty has reported the following:

Dr. Cash: Speaker—Novartis, Salix, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Dr. Kuritzky: Speaker—Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Dr. Fass: Speaker—AstraZeneca; Consultant—AstraZeneca, Wyeth, TAP, Altana, Xenoport; Contract research support—AstraZeneca, Wyeth, TAP, Ocera.

Planning Committee Mandy Johnson, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Randy Robbin and John Savage, Princeton CME; Rosemary Hodgson, William Kormos, and Rob Brosen, Princeton Media Associates have disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Princeton CME require faculty to inform participants whenever off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices are discussed in their presentation.

The faculty has disclosed that the following off-label/unapproved uses of drugs or devices will be discussed: use of the investigative agents linaclotide acetate and renzapride and the use of lubiprostone in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with a predominant bowel complaint of constipation.