Table 2 Responders’ status and practice style regarding the management of constipation

Do you use the Rome IV criteria to diagnose constipation in infants and children?

1973 (91.9%)

367 (84.9%)

2340

 < 0.001

What is your first-line treatment for fecal disimpaction (clean-out)?

Dietary management with special milk formula

1059 (49.3%)

239 (55.3%)

1298

Glycerin suppository

513 (23.9%)

115 (26.6%)

628

Osmotic laxatives (polyethylene glycol-based solutions)

275 (12.8%)

31 (7.2%)

306

Fleet Enemas

213 (9.9%)

19 (4.4%)

232

 < 0.001

Magnesium citrate

11 (0.5%)

4 (0.9%)

15

Stimulant laxatives

47 (2.2%)

17 (3.9%)

64

Others

29 (1.4%)

7 (1.6%)

36

What is your choice for long-term maintenance therapy of constipation?^a

Lactulose

758 (35.3%)

116 (29.9%)

874

0.001

Polyethylene glycol-based solutions

375 (17.5%)

24 (5.6%)

399

0.001

Magnesium hydroxide

82 (3.8%)

19 (4.4%)

101

0.571

Dietary management with special milk formula

1807 (84.2%)

363 (84.0%)

2170

0.94

Stool softeners/lubricants (docusate, mineral oil)

243 (11.3%)

55 (12.7%)

298

0.402

Stimulant laxatives (senna, bisacodyl)

136 (6.3%)

28 (6.5%)

164

0.909

Others

–-

–-

–-

–-

What type of infant formulas do you usually recommend for the dietary management of infantile constipation?^a

Partially hydrolyzed formula

310 (14.4%)

74 (17.1%)

384

0.152

Comfort/sensitive formula

548 (25.5%)

143 (33.1%)

691

 < 0.001

High-magnesium formula

1151 (53.6%)

156 (36.1%)

1307

 < 0.001

Formula with pro- and prebiotics

676 (31.5%)

155 (35.9%)

831

0.075

Other

–-

–-

–-

–-

Do you believe that dietary management with adapted formulas will help infantile functional constipation?

2028 (94.5%)

379 (87.7%)

2407

0.051