Research Article

Comparison of a Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCH1) and Lactulose as First-Line Treatment of Constipation in Long-Term Care: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, and Placebo-Controlled Trial

Table 5

Comparison of stool consistency and stool amount between CCH1 ( ) and lactulose ( ) groups.

VariablesGroup, mean (95% CI)
CCH1LactuloseAdjusted *

Average score of bristol scale
 Week −2–04.0 (3.8, 4.3)4.2 (4.0, 4.3)0.495
 Week 1–44.7 (4.5, 4.9)4.5 (4.3, 4.7)0.475
 Week 5–84.7 (4.5, 4.9)4.8 (4.6, 5.0)1.000
 Week 9–124.5 (4.3, 4.8)4.7 (4.5, 4.9)1.000
Percentage of large stool amount
 Week −2–029.8 (21.5, 38.1)32.9 (25.4, 40.3)0.581
 Week 1–436.6 (30.5, 42.8)38.3 (30.8, 45.9)1.000
 Week 5–842.1 (34.9, 49.2)38.7 (31.4, 46.0)1.000
 Week 9–1237.0 (29.8, 44.3)32.9 (25.2, 40.6)1.000
Percentage of moderate stool amount
 Week −2–050.5 (42.0, 59.1)52.9 (44.5, 61.2)0.692
 Week 1–452.2 (47.1, 57.4)49.2 (41.0, 57.4)1.000
 Week 5–848.2 (41.9, 54.6)47.5 (39.9, 55.0)1.000
 Week 9–1253.2 (46.0, 60.4)50.9 (42.9, 58.9)1.000
Percentage of small stool amount
 Week −2–019.7 (13.1, 26.3)14.2 (8.6, 19.9)0.211
 Week 1–411.1 (7.4, 14.8)12.0 (7.5, 16.4)1.000
 Week 5–89.7 (5.6, 13.8)13.8 (8.9, 18.7)0.588
 Week 9–129.8 (6.1, 13.5)16.2 (11.0, 21.4)0.142

* value was adjusted by Bonferroni adjustment.
Stool consistency was recorded by Bristol Stool Form Scale [25], ranging from 1 (separate hard lumps, like nuts) to 7 (watery, no solid pieces).
Stool amount was classified into three categories (small, <250 g; moderate, 250–500 g; large, >500 g) according to a national guidelines of the Registered Nurses Association [24].