Trial reportPloS one2016
The Prevalence and Symptoms Characteristic of Functional Constipation Using Rome III Diagnostic Criteria among Tertiary Education Students.
Trial report in PloS one, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 33 citations in OpenAlex.
- Defecation status, intestinal microbiota, and habitual diet are associated with the fecal bile acid composition: a cross-sectional study in community-dwelling young participants.European journal of nutrition · 2023Trial
- Effects of Synbiotics among Constipated Adults in Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia-A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Nutrients · 2018Trial
- Prevalence of functional constipation and its associated factors among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a population-based cross-sectional study.BMC gastroenterology · 2026Article
- Bali Chronic Constipation Roundtable Report: Chronic Constipation Management in Asia.Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility · 2026Article
- Factors Associated With the Severity of Chronic Constipation Among Japanese University Students.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology · 2025Article
- High leafy and root vegetables and high rice dietary patterns were associated with primary and secondary bile acid levels in the feces.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Risk factors for constipation during pregnancy: a multicentre prospective cohort study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Observational
- Overlap Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Functional Constipation and Associated Risk Factors Among the General Population in Saudi Arabia.International journal of general medicine · 2024Article
- Prevalence and associated factors of chronic constipation among Japanese university students.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Analysis of the efficacy of lactulose combined with polyethylene glycol in the treatment of functional constipation.American journal of translational research · 2024Article
- Factors Associated with Functional Constipation among Students of a Chinese University: A Cross-Sectional Study.Nutrients · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsFunctional constipation is very common with heterogeneous symptoms that have substantial impact on patient quality of life as well as medical resources which are rarely reported as life-threatening. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence and symptoms characteristic of functional constipation (FC) by using Rome III diagnostic criteria among tertiary education students with an intention to introduce treatment in the future.
methodsDemographic, socio-economics characteristics and symptoms of FC using the Rome III criteria were sought using a questionnaire administered to Malaysian students in a tertiary education setting. Other data obtained were the general health status, lifestyle factors and anthropometric measurements. Using a simple random sampling method, a total of 1662 students were recruited in the study with a response rate of 95.0%. Sampled data are presented as frequency and percentage and stratified accordingly into categories for Chi-square analysis.
resultsThe prevalence of functional constipation among the students was 16.2%, with a significantly higher prevalence among women (17.4%) than men (12.5%). Hard or lumpy stool, incomplete evacuation, anorectal obstruction and straining were reported as the commonest symptoms experienced. Type 3 was the most frequent stool consistency experienced among the constipated individuals (35.2%). Only 4.4% of individuals reported having less than three defecations per week. Using univariable analysis, FC was significantly associated with sex (odds ratio: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.06-2.06) and age group (odds ratio: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.79) with P value < 0.05 significance level. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only sex was found significantly associated with FC (adjusted odds ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.08-2.17, P < 0.05).
conclusionsBased on the prevalence rate, constipation is a common problem among tertiary education students (16.2%), with significantly more prevalence among the female respondents. Early detection of symptoms and further intervention studies focusing on treatment recommendation in improving the symptoms are essential.
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