SUMMARY
Background
Constipation is a common, often chronic, gastrointestinal motility disor-der characterized by such symptoms as straining, hard stool, and infre-quent defecation. Published literature is limited regarding symptom prevalence, healthcare-seeking behaviour, and patient satisfaction with traditional therapies for chronic constipation.
Aim
To assess the prevalence of chronic constipation among a random sam-ple of Americans, to identify the frequency, severity and bothersome-ness of their symptoms, and to assess satisfaction levels with traditional
treatments.
treatments.
Methods
All members (N¼37 004) of the Knowledge Networks Panel, represen-tative of the US population, participated in a web-based survey. Eligi-bility was established using a six-question screener.