Cleveland Clinic Children's Outcomes
Functional Constipation Shared Medical Appointment
Functional Constipation Shared Medical Appointment Pediatric Outcomes
2023
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.
- 46 Children
- Age 3-6 (mean=4)
- 22 Female (47.8%)
- 24 Male (52.2%)
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 Daily
2023
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 daily
2023
Mean level of Stress on Parent (0-100)
2023
Mean level of Toileting Stress on Child
2023
Parents Improvement with Coping at Discharge
2022
Over the last month, my ability to cope with my child's difficult BM has:
