Do the Symptoms of Chronic Constipation Improve With a Primary Care Programme Based on Behavioural Re-education and Abdominal Massage?

Constipation is one of the most common digestive problems in today's society. In Spain, it is estimated that this condition affects between 12% and 20% of the population, being more frequent in women, contributing considerably to the quality of life, to the increase of medical visits and to high costs for the health system. The objectives of the study are to reduce the rate of constipation and laxative use in the short term with a structured rehabilitation programme consisting of abdominal massage therapy and behavioural re-education, to improve the quality of life of these patients, and to assess whether the proposed treatment is effective in the short and medium term.

Inclusion Criteria: * Having been diagnosed with primary constipation using Rome IV Criteria(11), of more than three months' duration. * Understanding Catalan, Spanish or English. Exclusion Criteria: * Having constipation secondary to neurogenic, metabolic, endocrine or postoperative diseases. * Having constipation secondary to medication for other pathologies, the medication list for which can be found in the annex. * Having any type of open abdominal and/or anal wound, such as a recent abdominal scar or anal fissure. * Meeting any absolute contraindication criteria for the use of abdominal massage therapy, such as an unstable fracture requiring absolute rest and immobilisation, pregnancy or active oncological procedures. * Suffering from some type of cognitive, psychiatric or neurological alteration that does not allow to understand the project.