Table 3.

Hypothetical concept saturation of concepts in IBS-C focus groups

Concepts	Focus groups			Saturation
	1 vs. 2	1- 2 vs. 3	1-3 vs. 4
BM consistency (liquid)	0 vs. 0	0 vs. 0	0 vs. 1	No
BM consistency (solid)	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 0	2 vs. 1	Yes
BM evacuation (incomplete)	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 1	3 vs. 1	Yes
BM evacuation (none)	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 1	3 vs. 0	Yes
BM frequency	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 1	3 vs. 1	Yes
BM size	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 0	2 vs. 0	Yes
Straining	1 vs. 1	2 vs. 1	3 vs. 1	Yes

Note BM color and BM odor were only mentioned by one subject, and mucus was mentioned by three subjects in only one focus group; therefore, these were not considered for inclusion in the saturation grid; rectal fullness and rectal pressure were related to incomplete bowel movement and straining, respectively