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Table 1 Efficacy parameters assessed by weekly diary

From: Text messaging: an innovative method of data collection in medical research

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Efficacy Variable

Question

Response Scale

SMS code (choose one)

1

Abdominal discomfort/pain

"How intense was your abdominal discomfort/pain in the past week?"

0 = none

1 = mild

2 = moderate

3 = severe

1-0

1-1

1-2

1-3

2

Bloating

"How intense was your abdominal bloating in the past week?"

0 = none

1 = mild

2 = moderate

3 = severe

2-0

2-1

2-2

2-3

3

Stool frequency

"On the average, how many bowel movements did you have per day in the past week?"

Number of bowel movements per day or per week:

_______________/day or week (please delete as appropriate)

3-X/d or

3-X/w

4

Stool consistency

"Please rate your average stool consistency in the past week"

According to Bristol stool chart

1 = separate hard lumps, like nuts

2 = sausage-shaped but lumpy

3 = like sausage or snake but with cracks on its surface

4 = like sausage or snake, smooth & soft

5 = soft blobs with clear cut edges

6 = fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool

7 = watery, no solid pieces

4-1

4-2

4-3

4-4

4-5

4-6

4-7

5

Urgency

"Did you at any time in the past week experience urgency?" (having to rush to the toilet for a bowel movement?)

1 = yes, all the times

2 = yes, sometimes

3 = no

5-1

5-2

5-3

6

Straining

"Did you strain during or while trying to have a bowel movement in the past week?"

1 = yes, all the times

2 = yes, sometimes

3 = no

6-1

6-2

6-3

7

Sensation of complete evacuation

"Did you have a sensation of complete evacuation following your bowel movements in the past week?"

1 = yes, all the times

2 = yes, sometimes

3 = no

7-1

7-2

7-3

8

Overall satisfactory relief of IBS symptoms

"Over the past week, do you consider that you have had satisfactory relief from your symptoms of IBS?"

1 = Excellent relief

2 = Good relief

3 = Slight relief

4 = No relief

5 = Worse

8-1

8-2

8-3

8-4

8-5