OBJECTIVE: To compare two periods (A - 1992-1995 and B - 2002-2005) regarding the number of office visits for chronic constipation, considering the number of visits for gastrointestinal problems; the number and percentage of visits for chronic constipation; and the number of visits for constipation per period of care. METHODS: During period A, 359 patients were assisted for a period of four hours/week. During period B, 624 patients were assisted at three different periods of four hours/week. RESULTS: From A to B, there was an increase in: number of patients assisted, number of visits due to gastrointestinal problems (2.8 times) and number of visits due to constipation (2.6 times). However, the proportion of visits due to constipation was similar in both periods (A - 35.6% and B - 34.6%). Also, there was a rise in the number of periods for clinical assistance in Time B (2.9 times greater), with an equal mean number of visits per period (A - 17.4 and B - 16.6) and mean visits due to constipation per period (A- 6.1 and B - 5.5). CONCLUSIONS: The increase number, but not proportion, of visits for constipation may have occurred due to a stable population prevalence of this disorder, generating demand beyond the capacity for referral by generalist pediatricians. Also, the lack of skill of the generalist pediatrician to manage this clinical problem could have increased the number of referrals to specialists.
constipation; appointments and schedules; epidemiology
