This course aims to equip healthcare professionals with the essential knowledge and skills required for the assessment, investigation and management of constipation, including education, diet, pharmacological treatment and follow-up, at primary and secondary level, according to their role and scope of practice.

About the course

  • Course Design: Self-directed

  • Duration: It will take about 2 hours to complete.

  • Eligibility for this course:
    • Medical Officers
    • Primary Care Nurse Specialists
    • Registered Nurses (General & Speciality)
    • WCDHW Trainers
    • WCCN Lecturers & Clinical Facilitators
    • Rehabilitative and Therapeutic Health Professionals
    • Pharmacists
    • Pharmacy Assistants

  • Accreditation: This course is accredited for:
    • HPCSA: 2 Clinical CPD points (Level 1)
    • WCDHW Nursing: 3 CPD points in Area of Practice

  • Certification: Participants need 70% pass mark for final quiz.

  • Published: October 2026

If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply to start:

Your supervisor details are required

Apply to enroll

Course outline

This course covers the following content:

Constipation in Children: A Practical Management Approach
  • Module 1: Understanding normal
    • ​Constipation in context 
    • ​Social and cultural attitudes
    • ​Impact of constipation: 
      • Psychosocial complications
      • ​Physical complications
    • ​Why treat constipation?
    • ​Anatomy and physiology of defecation
    • ​The physiology of peristalsis
    • Normal bowel development across childhood
  • Module 2: Definition and classification
    • Rome IV categories
    • Other relevant definitions
  • Module 3: Clinical presentation
    • History taking (of presenting complaint, past medical history, red flags, family history, social history, dietary history)
    • ​Examination (abdominal and neurological)
    • ​Male and female perineal anatomy malformations
    • Indications for referral
  • Module 4: Assessment tools and investigations 
    • Investigations tailored to clinical findings
  • Module 5: Management principles
    • ​Approach to management in functional constipation
    • ​Pharmacological interventions
    • ​Useful dosages
    • ​Management of faecal impaction in functional constipation
    • ​Faecal disimpaction:
      • ​Fleet enema
      • ​Macrogols
      • ​Hospital in-patient
    • ​Management of functional constipation without faecal impaction
    • ​Education
      • ​Scheduled toilet time
      • ​Stool diary
      • ​Pelvic floor exercises
      • ​Diet
      • Increased fluid intake
    • ​Foods to avoid
    • ​Weaning medication
    • Special counselling considerations
    • Prognosis


Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness
People Development Centre

Acknowledgements:

  • University of Cape Town’s Knowledge & Instructional Development (KIDS) Training Hub
  • Knowledge Translation Unit