Functional Constipation Shared Medical Appointment

Functional Constipation Shared Medical Appointment Pediatric Outcomes

The Functional Constipation Shared Medical Appointment (SMA), casually known as "Poop School," is a group treatment program for 3–7-year-olds (and their parents) who experience poop accidents and constipation. The treatment model was initiated after a need to improve patient access and parent support for this condition. Providers from the departments of Pediatric Behavioral Health (Psychology) and Pediatric Gastroenterology work as a team with children and their parents. The purpose of Poop School is to address the medical, emotional, and behavioral factors that impact a child’s delayed toilet training. The program consists of 4 weekly appointments, plus follow-up appointments as needed. Parents and children are seen in separate groups to tailor the information provided. To learn more about both departments, please click here:

++https://my.clevelandclinic.org/pediatrics/departments/behavioral-health++

++https://my.clevelandclinic.org/pediatrics/departments/gastroenterology++

Percentage of Children who had successful BM in the Toilet at least every 1-2 days

2022

Charts below illustrate child progress after completion of the 4 week group.

Patients continued to follow-up in the SMA for an average duration of 7 months, with a range of 1 to 15 months based on child and family needs.

Percentage of children who had BM accident outside the toilet at least every 1-2 days

2022

Parents Improvement with Coping at Discharge

2022

Over the last month, my ability to cope with my child's difficult BM has:

Mean level of Stress on Parent (0-100)

2022

Mean level of Toileting Stress on Child

2022