Demographics and health care seeking behavior of Singaporean women with chronic constipation: implications for therapeutic management

Figures & data

Figure 1 Eligible respondent demographics (n = 100).

Figure 2 Frequency of constipation symptoms in eligible respondents (n = 100) in the past 12 months.

Notes: Question S8 from the Appendix: During the months when you experienced these symptoms in the past 12 months, roughly for what proportion of the times you went to the toilet (had a bowel motion) would each of these symptoms have been present? If frequency varied across the months that you experienced this symptom, please mention the approximate average frequency across the various months that you experienced it. [Single response per symptom.]

Table 1 Age-wise distribution of various constipation symptoms in the eligible respondents

Constipation symptom	Overall (%) (n = 100)	18–29 years (%) (n = 35)	30–39 years (%) (n = 25)	40–49 years (%) (n = 20)	50–59 years (%) (n = 10)	60–70 years (%) (n = 10)
Straining	88	97	88	95	60	70
HS	80	69	72	100	100	80
SIE	63	71	40	70	70	70
AP/B	63	66	72	60	60	40
SOB	45	43	40	50	60	40
<3/week	42	49	36	45	10	60
MM	24	23	28	25	40	–

Abbreviations: HS, hard stools; SIE, sensation of incomplete emptying; AP/B, abdominal pain/bloating/discomfort; SOB, sensation of obstruction/blockage in rectum while passing stool; <3/week, <3 defecations/week; MM, manual maneuvers to facilitate at least some defecations.

Table 2 Severity rating* for the various constipation symptoms by the eligible respondents (n = 100)

Constipation symptom	Straining (n = 88)	HS (n = 80)	SIE (n = 63)	AP/B (n = 63)	SOB (n = 45)	<3/week (n = 42)	MM (n = 24)
Severe (%)	39	40	38	44	42	52	42
Moderate (%)	53	50	51	46	49	36	50
Mild (%)	8	10	11	10	9	12	8

Note:

* Symptoms were rated as severe if the participants gave a top 3 box rating on a scale of 1–10 and mild if they gave a bottom 3 box rating on a scale of 1–10.

Abbreviations: HS, hard stools; SIE, sensation of incomplete emptying; AP/B, abdominal pain/bloating/discomfort; SOB, sensation of obstruction/blockage in rectum while passing stool; <3/week, <3 defecations/week; MM, manual maneuvers to facilitate at least some defecations.