Evidence-Based Pharmacist Care (Clinical, Economic, and Humanistic Impact): Constipation

Constipation, though commonly perceived as a minor ailment, imposes substantial clinical, economic, and humanistic burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of evidence-based pharmacist care in the management of constipation, emphasizing the multidimensional impact of pharmacist-led interventions. Clinically, pharmacists play a pivotal role in prevention, assessment, medication optimization, symptom relief, complication prevention, and patient education. Economically, their involvement reduces direct and indirect healthcare costs through early intervention, appropriate medication selection, avoidance of unnecessary treatments, and improved adherence. Humanistically, pharmacist care significantly enhances patients’ quality of life by alleviating discomfort, empowering self-management, improving medication knowledge, and increasing satisfaction with care. The chapter also explores research evidence supporting the effectiveness of pharmacist interventions and presents strategic recommendations for enhancing clinical practices. It highlights facilitators and barriers to optimal care, the role of digital health and AI tools, and the competencies required for delivering high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered pharmacy services. Collectively, the findings underscore the indispensable role of pharmacists in improving outcomes for patients with constipation.