An extended assessment of bowel habits in a general population.

Bowel habits are difficult to study, and most data on defecatory behaviour in the general population have been obtained on the basis of recalled interview. The objective assessment of this physiological function and its pathological aspects continues to pose a difficult challenge. The aim of this prospective study was to objectively assess the bowel habits and related aspects in a large sample drawn from the general population

Self-perceived normality in defecation habits

Background: Available information on normal bowel habits was mainly gathered by means of telephone interviews or mailed questionnaires. Aims: We undertook a prospective study to evaluate the defecatory habits in subjects perceiving themselves as normal concerning this function. Subjects and Methods: A questionnaire (4-week diary with "yes-no" daily answers to six questions concerning bowel habits) was distributed to 204 subjects perceiving their defecation behaviour as normal. Results: The completed questionnaire was returned by 140 subjects. No significant differences were found between sexes or age groups for any variable, even though straining at stool and feeling of incomplete and/or difficult evacuation showed a trend to increase with age. No subject had less than three bowel movements per week or more than three per day. The percentage of symptoms linked to an abnormal defecatory behaviour was well below 10%. Fifty-five percent of subjects reported at least one parameter of abnormal functioning; the most frequent was straining at stool and the rarer was the manual manoeuvres to help defecation. Conclusions: In normal subjects the prevalence of symptoms considered in Rome II criteria as part of an abnormal defecatory behaviour (in more than 25% of defecations) is well below 10%, manual manoeuvres are almost never used to help defecation, and the frequency of defecations is at least three per week. © 2005 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l

The daily diary and the questionnaire are not equivalent for the evaluation of bowel habits

COLLABORATOR ITALIAN CONSTIPATION STUDY GROUP: Bellini M, Biagi S, Costa F, De Bortoli N, Gambaccini D, Mammini C, Mumolo MG, Ricchiuti A, Marchi S, Bove A, Balzano A, Sormani MP, Bruzzi P, Battaglia E, Niola P, Verna C, Grassini M, Bocchini R, Cimatti M, Fornasari L, Montaletti I, Pazzi P, Alduini P, Berni I, Ceccarelli G, Bassotti G, Corazzi N, Morozzi B, Viegas LB, Pucciani F, Giani I, Ringressi N