Improving care for patients with chronic constipation using a new clinical pathway
Official title: Guideline to Implementation: A Rapid Clinical Care Pathway to Care for Patients Affected by Chronic Constipation
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11018561 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new tool to help doctors quickly diagnose and treat chronic constipation, so patients can get the right care without going through lots of extra tests.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $194,400 |
| NIH project number | 5K23DK134752-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018561 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients experiencing chronic constipation, particularly those who have not responded to standard laxative treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with constipation due to non-functional causes or those who have already undergone extensive testing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a rapid clinical care pathway to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic constipation. It aims to implement a novel point-of-care device that can predict treatment outcomes during initial consultations, reducing the need for unnecessary tests and ineffective treatments. By providing healthcare providers with a clinical decision support tool, the project seeks to enhance the adoption of effective therapies and streamline patient care. The goal is to ensure that patients receive appropriate evaluations and treatments more efficiently.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective and timely treatments for patients suffering from chronic constipation.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in implementing clinical decision support tools to improve patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach may also be effective for chronic constipation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shah, Eric Dinesh — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Shah, Eric Dinesh
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding constipation in systemic sclerosis and how autonomic stimulation may help
A patient-centered look at a study testing whether stimulating the autonomic nervous system can improve constipation in people with systemic sclerosis.
-
Abdominal Myofascial Release for IBS-C in patients of all ages
A study tests a hands-on therapy called abdominal myofascial release to help kids, teens, and adults with IBS with constipation feel better and have fewer tummy symptoms.
-
A New Way to Understand Chronic Constipation
This project aims to better understand chronic constipation and improve how we identify its causes using a new device called Fecobionics.
-
Constipation treatment to improve gut and kidney health in people with chronic kidney disease
This pilot will see if treating constipation improves gut bacteria, blood markers, and overall health in people with chronic kidney disease.
-
Constipation in systemic sclerosis: nerve and muscle causes
This project tests whether problems with gut nerves and pelvic floor muscles explain different types of constipation in people with systemic sclerosis.
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Developing an open-source system for nerve stimulation to treat chronic constipation.
This study is testing a new, flexible device that helps stimulate nerves to treat chronic constipation, aiming to provide patients with a more effective and affordable treatment option.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.