A new questionnaire for constipation and faecal incontinence.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence, severity and risk factors of faecal incontinence in women in the community are incompletely characterized.


OBJECTIVE
To develop and validate a self-report questionnaire (faecal incontinence and constipation assessment) to address these issues.


METHODS
Eighty-three women completed the instrument; 20 randomly selected patients answered the faecal incontinence and constipation assessment again 6 weeks later. A gastroenterologist also completed the faecal incontinence and constipation assessment in all 83 subjects after a detailed clinical assessment. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing the patient's self-report to a doctor interview for every question. Reproducibility was evaluated by a test-retest approach for every question. The severity of faecal incontinence was rated by incorporating the frequency and type of faecal incontinence, rectal urgency and use of sanitary devices.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was well-understood. Reproducibility [median kappa statistic, 0.80 (interquartile range: 0.66-0.90)]; and concurrent validity [0.59 (0.47-0.67)] were acceptable. For the index question on faecal incontinence, the kappa for reproducibility and concurrent validity was 0.90 and 0.95, respectively. The faecal incontinence severity score was also valid (kappa = 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
The faecal incontinence and constipation assessment has excellent reproducibility and reasonable validity for assessing the presence, risk factors and severity of faecal incontinence and associated bowel disorders in women when compared against clinical assessment.
Bharucha
A E
AE
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA. bharucha.adil@mayo.edu
Locke
G R
GR
Seide
B M
BM
Zinsmeister
A R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*