{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,8]],"date-time":"2026-06-08T15:55:05Z","timestamp":1780934105354,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,10]],"date-time":"2024-10-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728518400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Chronic constipation (CC) is one of the most common disorders of gut\u2013brain interaction (DGBI). The management of CC requires specific skills due to its complex and multifactorial pathophysiology and its multistep treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the availability and the use of diagnostic tools for CC in Italy and the therapeutic management of CC by Italian gastroenterologists (GEs). Methods: A survey was conducted during the 28th meeting of the Italian Federation of Digestive Disease Societies (FISMAD; Rome, Italy, 11\u201314 May 2022). The survey explored the presence of a clinic dedicated to DGBIs, the availability and the use of specific diagnostic tools, the routine use of digital rectal examination (DRE), and the therapeutic approach to CC by Italian GEs. Results: The survey was taken by 236 GEs. The most significant results were that 42% of respondents had a clinic dedicated to DGBI in their institute; DRE was regularly performed by 56.8% of GEs when evaluating a CC patient; young GEs (\u226440 years) performed DRE less frequently than older ones (p &lt; 0.001); anorectal manometry was available to 44.3% of GEs; balloon expulsion test (BET) was available to 19.1% of GEs; GEs with a clinic dedicated to DGBI had more frequent access to anorectal physiology testing (p &lt; 0.001); diet and lifestyle advice were the most frequently prescribed treatments; and fiber and macrogol were the second and third most prescribed treatments, respectively. Conclusions: The survey provides an interesting picture of CC management by Italian GEs. The results are in line with previous data collected about 10 years ago among Italian GEs (\u201cCHRO.CO.DI.T.E study\u201d); DRE is still rarely performed by Italian GEs (particularly by young GEs). The availability of anorectal physiology testing is still limited, and BET, which could be easily performed in everyday clinical settings, is rarely performed. Lifestyle suggestions, macrogol and fiber are the preferred treatment, as recommended by all guidelines. These results will be useful to identify as yet unmet educational needs and critical issues to improve CC management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13206047","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,10]],"date-time":"2024-10-10T11:34:36Z","timestamp":1728560076000},"page":"6047","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["The Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Constipation in Italy: Results from a Survey Conducted among Italian Gastroenterologists"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9565-5039","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"Lambiase","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy"},{"name":"NIHR Nottingham BRC, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK"},{"name":"Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre, Translational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"D\u2019Alba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1297-9186","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francesca","family":"Galeazzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology Unit, Azienda Ospedale Universit\u00e0 di Padova, 35128 Padua, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0237-1812","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabrio","family":"Bassotti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology & Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, 06156 Perugia, Italy"},{"name":"Gastroenterology Unit, Perugia General Hospital, 06156 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-2472-2016","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Danilo","family":"Consalvo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, AORN \u201cAntonio Cardarelli\u201d, 80131 Napoli, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0670-9120","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Edda","family":"Battaglia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology Unit, ASL TO4 Chiavasso\u2013Ciri\u00e8\u2013Ivrea, 10034 Torino, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Cataudella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Outpatient Clinic, Casa di Cura Eretenia, 36100 Vicenza, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Cristina","family":"Neri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology Unit, Geriatric Institute Pio Albergo Trivulzio, 20146 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claudio","family":"Londoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Department, Maggiore Hospital, 26013 Crema, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Piera","family":"Rossitti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ambulatorio Perineologico Riabilitativo, 33100 Udine, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emiliano","family":"Valenzi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastroenterology Unit, ASL Latina, 04100 Latina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9120-5957","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bruno","family":"Annibale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sant\u2019Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2745-1560","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Soncini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine, ASST Lecco, 23900 Lecco, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Caterina","family":"Parodi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, San Martino Hospital, 16132 Genoa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Massimo","family":"Bellini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Gastrointestinal Unit, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2020.04.014","article-title":"Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global Study","volume":"160","author":"Sperber","year":"2021","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"376","DOI":"10.1002\/ueg2.12221","article-title":"Constipation: Prevalence in the Portuguese Community Using Rome IV-Associated Factors, Toilet Behaviours and Healthcare 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