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. 2025 Jul;20(4):e70033.
doi: 10.1111/opn.70033.

Best Practice to Prevent Constipation in People Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review

Linda Maria Schnitker  1   2 , Safa Alrababah  1 , Anne Young  1 , Zoe Selby  1 , Claudia Meyer  1   3   4   5 , Judy A Lowthian  1   6
Affiliations

Best Practice to Prevent Constipation in People Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review

Linda Maria Schnitker et al. Int J Older People Nurs. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: This scoping review explores available evidence on strategies to guide the prevention of constipation in people with dementia.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across eight electronic databases. Two researchers independently conducted data screening, extraction, analysis and charting using a standardised data extraction tool for obtaining information about studies.

Results: We identified seven studies, including three randomised controlled trials, carried out between 1997 and 2019. A range of nonpharmacological strategies was utilised to reduce the risk of developing constipation in people who live with dementia.

Implications for practice: Strategies identified through this review could guide the care of people with dementia in preventing constipation by emphasising the importance of lifestyle and environmental changes to support regular, soft-formed bowel movements.

Keywords: Alzheimer's; dyschezia; neurocognitive disorder; nonpharmacological interventions; well‐being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow chart for study selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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