Patient was educated on laxatives and their mechanism of action as follows:

1. Constipation is defined by symptoms, such as, feeling of incomplete evacuation, hard stools with consequent straining at stool, and grossly reduced frequency of bowel movements.
2. Laxatives are medications used to ease the effort of having a bowel movement.
3. Laxatives accomplish this goal of easing the effort of bowel movement by various mechanisms as follows:

• Increasing the bulk of stools.
• Increasing the lubrication of intestinal walls.
• Increasing the fluid content of the stools.
• Increasing the frequency of bowel movements by stimulating the intestinal wall.