Constipation assessment scales in adults: a literature review including the new Bowel Function Index

Constipation is a common clinical condition and patient and physician perception of the disorder can vary considerably. The assessment of a symptom-based condition such as constipation is challenging, in terms of making the diagnosis, assessing the severity of symptoms and their impact on a patient's quality of life, and assessing response to therapy or changes to symptoms over time. In order to assist physicians in assessing the severity of constipation and its related discomfort, several rating scales have been developed. During the course of a literature search, 16 studies were identified that reported assessment scales based on a selection of varied symptoms of constipation and that evaluated these scales in different groups of individuals; two studies presented stool form as being key to assessing transit time. In the present article, the characteristics and psychometric evaluation of these different constipation assessment scales, including the new Bowel Function Index, are reported with a view to discussing which assessment tool appears to be most robust and/or useful in daily clinical practice.