Bowel Habit Pattern and Perception about Bowel Habit Pattern of Medical Students

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the bowel habit pattern of medical students along with their perception regarding their bowel habit. Materials and methods: In this observational study normal bowel habit was defined by both Western criteria (Rome III) and Asian diagnostic criteria. Results: Out of 249 (M = 155) students, 139 (55.8%) had predominantly Bristol type T4 stools, 51 (20.5%) had T3 stools, 18 (7.2%) had T5 stools, 23 (9.2%) had T 6/T7 stools and19 (7.6%) had T1/T2 stools. Weekly mean stool frequency was 9.09 ± 4.058(Male 9.6 vs. female 8.2, P = 0.016), with a range of 3- 28 motions/week. According to Western criteria 156 (62.65%, M = 101) had normal bowel habit, while by Asian criteria the figure was 109(43.8%). Predominant stool form in Western normal bowel habit group was T4 (n = 109, 69.9%); 34 (21.8%) had T3 stools. Mean stool frequency of normal bowel habit group (8.66/week) was different from constipation group (6.0/week, P = 0.004) but not from diarrhea group (9.38/week, P = 0.540). A total of 189 (75.9%) students perceived their bowel habit as normal, 17 as constipation, 2 as diarrhea and 12 as alternating diarrhea and constipation. Out of 156 students with normal bowel habit, 134 (85.9%) perceived their bowel habit as normal. A moderate agreement (K = 0.603, P < 0.0005) was found between western criteria and Asian criteria. Agreement between western normal bowel habit and students’ perception was poor (K = 0.61, P < 0.0005). Conclusion: Mean stool frequency of medical students was lower than some Asian countries but the predominant stool from was like most other countries. A wide mismatch was apparent between students’ perception of their bowel habit and Western criteria.