PATIENT PRESENTATION MARKER 

Loose/watery stools 

What this marker measures

The degree to which the patient reported loose or watery stools in the last 3 months. 

Health categories/Interpretations informed by this marker

Clinical features
‍● Lower GI symptoms: loose/watery stools is a commonly-reported lower gastrointestinal symptom that can affect quality of life. 
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Interpreting the result

PRESENT
Questionnaire responses indicate loose or watery stools more than 25% of the time. 
PARTIALLY PRESENT
Questionnaire responses indicate loose or watery stools 25% of the time or less. 
NOT PRESENT
Questionnaire responses indicate loose or watery stools rarely or never.

Patient management insights

DIETARY STRATEGIES
Add psyllium husk: psyllium husk may reduce stool frequency, improve stool consistency, and reduce urgency in chronic diarrhoea.1
GRADE D

Tips for patients discussion

"Your questionnaire responses show that you're having loose or watery stools. This is common and can affect how you feel day to day. A fibre supplement like psyllium husk may help firm things up, and we'll look at your other results to see what else might help." 

Source references for all clinical associations, interpretation definitions, and patient management insights on this card.

1. Qvitzau, S., Matzen, P. & Madsen, P. Treatment of chronic diarrhoea: loperamide versus ispaghula husk and calcium. Scand J Gastroenterol23, 1237–1240 (1988).