Inaccuracy of patient-reported descriptions of and satisfaction with bowel actions in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Background: Perception of diarrhea and constipation differs greatly. This study aimed to correlate subjective and objective assessment of fecal characteristics in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Methods: Data from two interventional dietary trials with varying FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols) or gluten content were interrogated. Subjects rated their dissatisfaction with stool consistency daily using a visual analog scale during the interventions. Subjects collected stools at the end of each intervention. Each stool was scored according to the King's Stool Chart (KSC). Fecal water content (FWC) was measured on pooled feces by freeze dr..