Philipp R, Wood N, Heaton K W, Hughes A
Department of Epidemiology & Public Health Medicine, University of Bristol.
J R Soc Health. 1993 Jun;113(3):128-31. doi: 10.1177/146642409311300307.
A questionnaire about diarrhoea and how people react to it was answered by 400 people aged 16-70 years, most of whom were in employment (77% of respondents). There was wide variation in perceptions and reactions. Older persons and people in skilled trades were more likely to consider any increased bowel looseness or frequency of their usual bowel habit as diarrhoea, compared to younger persons and people in professional and managerial positions. Over half the respondents rated a single soft stool as diarrhoea, and almost a third accepted likewise an increased frequency of defaecation. The most unpleasant aspect of diarrhoea was considered to be incontinence with soiling of underclothes. At the onset of diarrhoea, 16% of respondents would not wait even a day or two but would go straight to a pharmacist, and 8% would go direct to a doctor. Persons in professional and managerial positions were less likely to attend their doctor straight away than people in other occupational groups. The findings show that for improved clinical management and public health surveillance, health professionals should not accept the term when it is used by patients, but seek details of their defaecation patterns and the form of their stools. Improved public education is needed as to self-help, appropriate treatment and when to seek pharmaceutical and medical advice.
一份关于腹泻以及人们对腹泻反应的问卷由400名年龄在16至70岁之间的人作答，其中大多数人都有工作（占受访者的77%）。在认知和反应方面存在很大差异。与年轻人以及从事专业和管理职位的人相比，年长者和从事技术行业的人更有可能将其正常排便习惯中任何排便变稀或排便频率增加视为腹泻。超过一半的受访者将一次软便评为腹泻，近三分之一的人同样认为排便频率增加也算腹泻。腹泻最令人不快的方面被认为是大便失禁并弄脏内衣。腹泻开始时，16%的受访者甚至不会等上一两天，而是会直接去找药剂师，8%的人会直接去看医生。从事专业和管理职位的人比其他职业群体的人不太可能立即去看医生。研究结果表明，为了改善临床管理和公共卫生监测，卫生专业人员不应接受患者使用的这个术语，而应了解他们的排便模式细节和大便形态。需要加强关于自助、适当治疗以及何时寻求药物和医疗建议的公众教育。
