New objective scoring system to clinically assess fecal incontinence

Table 7 Comparison of ranking of six types of fecal incontinence as per severity perceived by patients, laypersons and surgeons

Ranking	Patients (n = 50)		Laypersons (n = 50)		Surgeons (n = 33)
Most severe to least severe	Type of FI	Ranking mean ± SD	Type of FI	Ranking mean ± SD	Type of FI	Ranking mean ± SD
6	Liquid	4.73 ± 1.25	Solid	4.80 ± 1.50	Solid	6.0 ± 0.0
5	Solid	4.51 ± 1.50	Liquid	4.64 ± 1.35	Liquid	5.0 ± 0.0
4	Urge	3.65 ± 1.52	Urge	3.70 ± 1.44	Stress	2.90 ± 1.07
3	Flatus	2.87 ± 1.50	Flatus	2.72 ± 1.45	Mucous	2.81 ± 0.91
2	Mucous	2.57 ± 1.38	Mucous	2.70 ± 1.44	Flatus	2.57 ± 1.06
1	Stress	2.53 ± 1.53	Stress	2.46 ± 1.38	Urge	1.69 ± 1.07

The persons in each group (patients, laypersons and surgeons) were asked to rank the six types of fecal incontinence (FI) in decreasing order of severity. The most severe was given 6 points, and the least severe FI was given 1 point. The average of each FI type in each group was calculated, and the final ranking of FI in that group was calculated.