title: How accurate is the recall of bowel habits in children with defaecation disorders?
abstract: The aim was to assess in children with defaecation disorders, the accuracy of recalled information as provided by the child and/or parents compared to diary information and to evaluate its effect on diagnostic grouping. In this prospective study, recalled information, obtained initially by a telephone interview, was compared with recorded information provided by a 4-week diary. Recalled and recorded data were compared using Kappa indices. Subsequently, children were assigned to three diagnostic groups: constipation, solitary encopresis and a rest group. Based on these diagnoses, the first two groups were allocated for laxative treatment. Analysis of recalled and recorded data was performed in 46 children (5-14 years). Most defaecation parameters showed fair agreement, only limited agreement occurred for frequency of soiling episodes. Identical clinical groups using the two methods were obtained in 63% of the children. Particularly, the assessment of large amounts of stool and the number of soiling episodes were responsible for the shift in the diagnostic groups. A total of 83% children were correctly allocated for treatment using recalled data.
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: van der Plas
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Benninga
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Redekop
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taminiau
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Büller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003625:Data Collection; D003672:Defecation; D004688:Encopresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D011939:Mental Recall; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results