An interventional study of Constipation information via Podcast in Constipation and Orthopedic Disorder, sponsored by Central Jutland Regional Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-08.
Sponsored by Central Jutland Regional Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
In this study, the investigators will evaluate the effect of a podcast on constipation on the number of patients with constipation. It is hypothesised that the podcast on constipation, will prevent constipation in the period leading up to and after surgery.
This is a randomised controlled trial. The population of the study will consist of patients with planned orthopaedic surgery (knee, hip, shoulder, and back) at the Elective Surgery Centre, Silkeborg Regional Hospital. The sample of the study will consist of patients 18 years or older, who are able to understand, read and write Danish, has an email address, has access to and is able to navigate a computer, tablet or smartphone, does not have severe hearing loss, does not have cognitive dysfunction or other mental illness that would make participation difficult, is not participating in other trials at the Elective Surgery Centre, is not diagnosed with a gastrointestinal condition (Crohns, Colitis ulcerosa or celiac disease), and does not previously have received a colostomy or ileostomy.
Patients will be randomised to either a control group or an intervention group. Both groups will receive the standard information at the preoperative consultation and after randomisation. The intervention group will also receive a podcast.
The study will collect data using an online questionnaire, that includes The ROME IV Diagnostic Criteria for functional constipation and "The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL)". Data will be collected at 4 times: (1) after the preoperative consultation (baseline), (2) 1-2 days prior to surgery, (3) 1 week after surgery, and (4) 4 weeks after surgery.
Objective:
Primary aim: to evaluate the effect of a podcast on the number of patients with constipation at admission to surgery.
Secondary aim: to evaluate the effect of a podcast on the number of patients with constipation in the period after surgery.
Method: This is a randomised controlled trial, which will be conducted at the Silkeborg Regional Hospital, Denmark, between March and October 2025.
The study population will include patients scheduled for knee, hip, shoulder, and back surgery at the Elective Surgery Centre, Silkeborg Regional Hospital. The study population will consist of patients 18 years or older, who are able to understand, read and write Danish, has an email address, has access to and is able to navigate a computer, tablet or smartphone, does not have severe hearing loss, does not have cognitive dysfunction or other mental illness that would make participation difficult, is not participating in other trials at the Elective Surgery Centre, is not diagnosed with a gastrointestinal condition (Crohns, Colitis ulcerosa or celiac disease), and does not previously have received a colostomy or ileostomy.
Sample size: Based on calculations, 600 patients are needed to achieve 80% power at a 5% significance level, assuming 30% constipation in the control group and 10 percentage points fewer in the intervention group (ROME IV criteria).
Eligible participants will be randomised into a control group and an intervention group. Both groups will receive the standard information related to their respective surgeries. The intervention group will however also be receiving a podcast about constipation in relation to surgery. The podcast is 30 minutes long, and includes information on constipation explained by a gastroenterologist specialised in defecation disorders, as well as patients' experience with constipation after surgery. The podcast is developed in a collaboration between Elective Surgery Centre, Medical Diagnostic Centre (Silkeborg Regional Hospital) and the Central Denmark Region's Centre for Competence Development.
The outcomes are measured using online questionnaires at (1) baseline after preoperative consultation (2-6 weeks before surgery), (2) 1-3 days before surgery, (3) 1 week after surgery, and (4) 4 weeks after surgery. Primary and secondary outcome is the prevalence of constipation measured using questionnaires with ROME IV criteria. Questionnaires will also be used to collect data on quality of life (The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL)), use of laxatives (frequency and type), education level, employment, living situation, use of the standard patient information and its usefulness, and use of the podcast and its usefulness. Data will also be collected from patient records using The Region of Central Denmark's data warehouse. This will be data on hospitalisations and length of stay, rehospitalisation, type of surgery, diagnoses, contact with general practitioner, and contact with the clinic due to issues with bowel movements.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants in the experimental group will in addition to the standard information also receive a podcast. The standard information is provided by a nurse at the preoperative consultation. Patients also receive a card with access to an online platform with information about constipation, the specific surgery, preparations for surgery, and the period after surgery.
Behavioral: Constipation information via Podcast
Participants in the control group will receive the standard information. The information is provided by a nurse at the preoperative consultation. Patients also receive a card with access to an online platform with information about constipation, the specific surgery, preparations for surgery, and the period after surgery.
The podcast is 30 minutes long, and includes information on constipation explained by a gastroenterologist specialised in defecation disorders, as well as patients' experience with constipation after surgery. The podcast is developed in collaboration with Silkeborg Regional Hospital and the Central Denmark Region's Centre for Competence Development. Patients will get access to the podcast after randomisation, and will be able to listen to it throughout the study period.
ROME IV Diagnostic Criteria for functional constipation
The ROME IV criteria consists of 6 diagnostic criteria. To diagnose constipation using ROME IV criteria in this study, two or more of the criteria must have been fulfilled the last 3 months or since last measured.
Time frame: Measured at baseline (after preparatory consultation) and 1-3 days prior to surgery.
The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL)
The Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life is a questionnaire that measures quality of life of patients with constipation. It contains 28 items grouped into 4 subscales covering: Worries and concerns (11 items), Physical discomfort (4 items), Psychosocial discomfort (8 items), and Satisfaction (5 items). A 5-point Likert response scale, ranging from 0 (Not at all / None of the time) to 4 (Extremely / All of the time), is used over a 2-week recall period. Minimum score: 0 (none of the time), maximum score 112 (all of the time/extremely).
Time frame: Measured at baseline (after preparatory consultation), 1-3 days prior to surgery, and 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
ROME IV Diagnostic Criteria for functional constipation
The ROME IV criteria consists of 6 diagnostic criteria. To diagnose constipation using ROME IV criteria in this study, two or more of the criteria must have been fulfilled the last 3 months or since last measured.
Time frame: Measured at baseline (after preparatory consultation) and 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
Number of hospitalizations after surgery
Number of hospitalizations after surgery
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months after surgery
Number of contacts to general practitioner after surgery
Number of contacts to general practitioner after surgery
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months after surgery
Number of outpatient visits after surgery
Number of outpatient visits after surgery (all and contact to surgery department and gastroenterology department)
Time frame: 30 days and 6 months after surgery
Use of podcast and information material, and the usefulness of these.
In the online questionnaire, all patients will be asked about their use of the information an if they found it useful. The intervention group will also be asked if they have listened to the podcast, and if they found it useful.
Time frame: Measured 1-3 days prior to surgery, and at 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
Use of laxantia, frequency (regularly or as needed) and type.
In the online questionnaire patients will be asked whether they use laxantia, and if so what type and how often (regularly or as needed).
Time frame: Measured at baseline, 1-3 days prior to surgery, and at 1 week and 4 weeks after surgery.
Days of hospitalization after surgery
Days of hospitalization after surgery
Time frame: From time for admission to surgery to discharge
Plan to share: No
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Central Jutland Regional Hospital