Table 2 Items and answering options included in the Diet and Bowel Function questionnaire

Dietary effects on bowel function and daily life

 1

Would you agree that your diet affects your stomach?

(e.g. constipation, diarrhea or bloatedness)

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please, explain how)

 2

Would you agree that how you eat affects your stomach?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please, explain how)

 3a

Do you adjust your diet for your stomach’s sake?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 3b

If yes: Why?

(Laxative effect/Constipating effect/Less gases/Other. If so, what?)

 4

Do you choose specific types of food to help your stomach?

(Yes/No)

 5

Do you avoid specific types of food to help your stomach?

(Yes/No)

 6

Is there anyone else in your family that adjusts their diets to help their stomach?

(Yes/No)

 7

Does your diet limit you (in school, when you are with friends or in general)?

(I’ve never thought about it, so I don’t find it relevant/No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 8

Do you think about how your diet affect your stomach?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 9

To parents: Do you think about your child's diet and how it affects his/her stomach?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 10

Does your diet affect you emotionally?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 11

To parents: Does your child’s diet affect you emotionally?

(No, never/Yes, sometimes/Yes, often/Yes, always/Not currently but I have in the past/Please explain how)

 12a

Would you be interested in finding out more information about how your diet affects your stomach?

(Yes/No)

 12b

If yes: Where or who would you turn to to find out more information?

(Open answer)

The effect of specific food items on bowel function

 13a

Does the food item affect your stomach?

(For every food item: Yes/No/I don’t know)

 13b

If yes: In which way?

(For every food item: Laxative effect/Constipating effect/Gives gases/Gives pain/Other. If so, what?)

Food items listed:

Fruits: pineapple, orange, apricot, banana, clementine, strawberry, kiwi, cherry, lingonberry, melon, nectarine, peach, plum, pear, dried fruit, grapes, apple

Vegetables: avocado, cauliflower, broccoli, beans, cabbage, lentils, onion, corn, carrot, pepper, parsley, potato, rhubarb, celery, fruit peel, asparagus, mushroom, tomato, peas

Dairy: cream, ice cream, lactose-free milk, milk, cheese, butter, yoghurt

Bread, flour, rice: bread with grains/seeds, Swedish cracker, cornmeal, pasta, rice, flour, white bread

Meat, fish, egg: fish, pork, beef, sausage, chicken, salami, shellfish, egg

Sweets and snacks: pastry, chips, chocolate, candy, popcorn, rice cakes, pretzel sticks

Beverages: soda (with sugar), soda (free from sugar), water, carbonated drink, wine/beer, formula

Cooking effects: deep fried food, spicy food, fried food, soup

Spices and seeds: curry, cayenne, chili/tabasco, chamomile, sesame, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds

Nuts etc.: cashew, hazelnut, peanut, chestnut, almond, brazil nut, walnut, soya

Other food item (Open answer)