Table 3.

Life quality scale system[16]

Physical

P1 It is difficult for me to get out and do things like going to a movie or to church

P2 I avoid travelling

P3 Whenever I am away from home, I try and stay near a toilet as much as possible

P4 I can’t hold on to my bowel motion long enough to get to the bathroom

P5 I try to prevent bowel accidents by staying very near a bathroom

P6 I cut down on how much I eat before I go out

P7 Whenever I go somewhere new, I make sure I know where the toilets are

Social

S1 I avoid visiting my friends

S2 I avoid staying the night away from home

S3 It is important to plan my daily activities around my bowel habit

S4 I leak stool without even noticing it

S5 I can’t do many things I want to do

S6 I have sex less often than I would like

S7 I feel different from other people

S8 I avoid travelling by plane or public transport

S9 I avoid going out to eat

S10 I am afraid to have sex

Emotional

E1 I am afraid to go out

E2 I worry about not being able to get to the toilet in time

E3 I feel unhealthy

E4 I feel ashamed

E5 I worry about bowel accidents

E6 I feel depressed

E7 I worry about the smell

E8 I enjoy life less

E9 The possibility of bowel accidents is always on my mind

E10 During the past month have you felt so sad, discouraged, hopeless, or had so many

Problems that you wondered whether anything was worthwhile?

Overall sense of well-being

In general, would you say your health is excellent/very good/good/fair/poor?