J Neurogastroenterol Motil.
2014 Jul;20(3):379-387.
Constipation Misperception Is Associated With Gender, Marital Status, Treatment Utilization and Constipation Symptoms Experienced
- Affiliations
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- 1Institute for Digestive Research, Digestive Disease Center, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Department of Internal Medicine and Digestive Disease Research Institute, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
- 5Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea.
- 6Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 7Asan Digestive Disease Research Institute, Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 8Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
- 9Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyan University Gumi Hospital, Gumi, Korea.
- 10Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji General Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 11Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangwon-do, Korea.
- 12Biostatistical Consulting Unit, Soonchunhyang University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- BACKGROUND/AIMS
It is essential that clinicians have an understanding of patients' perceptions of constipation as well as constipation misperception (CM), which can be defined as failure to recognize the six constipation symptoms (infrequency, straining, hard stool, incomplete evacuation, anorectal obstruction or manual maneuver). The aims of our study were to identify the prevalence of CM and its association with demographics and clinical features.
METHODS
This nationwide survey included 625 self-reported constipated subjects (431 females; mean age, 41.2 years) among random participants in the National Health Screening Program. The prevalence of CM for each constipation symptom was estimated, and the participants were classified into nil (0), low (1-2), mid (3-4) and high (5-6) level CM subgroups according to the number of misperceived symptoms.
RESULTS
The highest rate of CM was observed for manual maneuver (48.3%), followed by anorectal obstruction (38.4%), stool infrequency (34.6%), incomplete evacuation (32.2%), hard stool (27.2%) and straining (25.4%). Among the nil (n = 153), low (n = 242), mid (n = 144) and high level (n = 86) subgroups, there were significant differences in the proportions of males (18.3%, 34.3%, 39.6% and 30.2%; P = 0.001, respectively), never-married status (25.7%, 38.2%, 36.8% and 45.9%; P = 0.030, respectively) and those who did not receive treatment for constipation (41.8%, 47.5%, 58.3% and 66.3%; P < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant linear trend of increasing degree of CM with decreasing symptoms experienced (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
CM is significantly associated with gender, marital status, treatment utilization and the range of constipation symptoms experienced.
