What's New on Defining Diarrhea in Tube-Feeding Studies?

Kelly J. Lebak, Donna Zimmaro Bliss, Kay Savik and Kathleen M. Patten-Marsh

Clinical Nursing Research, 2003, vol. 12, issue 2, 174-204

Abstract: Nurses who are involved in studies of tube-feeding tolerance or who review the literature on this topic are confronted with a myriad of definitions and methods of reporting diarrhea. In a 1992 study, the authors reported that these definition differences influenced results. In a review of the current literature, they determined that little progress had been made toward standardizing definitions and reports of diarrhea in studies of tube feeding. A secondary analysis of stool characteristics of hospitalized patients using various definitions of diarrhea showed there was a positive association between stool frequency and consistency. Criteria for stool consistency in the definitions of diarrhea appeared to have a greater influence on diarrhea outcomes when stool frequency was low. The authors suggest recognition of a taxonomy of definitions of diarrhea in the absence of consensus, which will help guide the design of future investigations and facilitate the evaluation and utilization of research.

Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:clnure:v:12:y:2003:i:2:p:174-204

DOI: 10.1177/1054773803012002005

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