Table 7.
Results from the Bowel Function Index questionnaire
| Total population |
Ever used laxatives?* |
Opioid strength† |
Number of laxatives‡ |
|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes |
No |
Weak only |
Strong only |
1 |
2 |
≥3 |
||||||||||
| (N = 198) | (N = 134) | (N = 50) | (N = 116) | (N = 42) | (N = 92) | (N = 19) | (N = 9) | |||||||||
| N (missing) | 185 | (13) | 134 | (0) | 50 | (0) | 106 | (10) | 39 | (3) | 92 | (0) | 19 | (0) | 9 | (0) |
| BFI total score, mean (SD) | 52.06 | (31.51) | 58.24 | (30.24) | 36.52 | (29.00) | 49.83 | (31.01) | 51.35 | (33.05) | 55.80 | (29.50) | 65.30 | (32.57) | 85.59 | (13.42) |
| BFI total score >28.8, N (%) | 139 | (75.1) | 109 | (81.3) | 30 | (60.0) | 80 | (75.5) | 27 | (69.2) | 74 | (80.4) | 16 | (84.2) | 9 | (100.0) |
BFI = Bowel Function Index.
*
Excludes 14 patients whose laxative use was unknown.
†
Excludes 40 patients taking combined strong and weak opioid therapy.
‡
Excludes 50 patients taking no laxatives.