Table 1.

Similarities and differences between MSK-BFI and LARS score

Attribute	MSK-BFI	LARS-Q
Target population	Rectal Cancer Patients with Sphincter Preserving Surgery
Purpose	Bowel Function Assessment
Mode of administration	Self-Completed	Self-Completed
Number of questions	18	5
Dimensions of bowel function	Adopts a 4-week recall period	No specific recall period
Frequency	6 items (Q1, Q5, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11)	1 item (Q3)
Urgency/soilage	4 items (Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18)	2 items (Q2, Q5)
Diet	4 items (Q2, Q3, Q13, Q14)	No items
Other
Incomplete evacuation	1 item (Q4)	No items
Continence of gas	1 item (Q12)	1 item (Q1)
Discrimination of gas vs stool	1 item (Q7)	No items
Empty bowels within last 15 m	1 item (Q6)	1 item (Q4)
Summary scores(s)	Total score: sum of global score + independent items Global score: sum of the 3 sub-scales 3 sub-scales	Total score
Item response scales	Integers from 1 to 5. Five categories for each question (never, rarely, sometimes, most of the time, always).	Integers from 0 to 16. Different scoring for each question. Between 3 to 4 categories for item.
Scoring	Unweighted sum for each item, by sub-scale, global scale, and total scale. Range: 17–90; higher score = better bowel function. Corresponds to a continuous score, so far no clinical categories have been used.	Weighted scoring. Final score is the sum for each individual item. Range: 0–42; lower score = better bowel function. Results discriminate 3 categories: 0–20 = No LARS, 21–29 = Minor LARS, 30–42 = Major LARS

Abbreviations: MSK-BFI, Memorial Sloan Kettering Bowel Function Instrument; LARS, low anterior resection syndrome.