%0 Journal Article %A Paul Sebo %A Cécile Quinio %A Marion Viry %A Dagmar M. Haller %A Hubert Maisonneuve %T Perceived Effectiveness and Overall Satisfaction of Using a Toilet Stool to Prevent or Treat Constipation: An Analysis of Online Comments %D 2022 %R 10.3122/jabfm.2022.04.210474 %J The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine %P 836-839 %V 35 %N 4 %X Introduction: Constipation is a common complaint in the general population. Squatting (using a toilet stool) is associated with faster and more complete bowel emptying, and could therefore help prevent or treat constipation. We analyzed the reviews of online buyers of a toilet stool to assess perceived effectiveness, overall satisfaction and potential side effects.Methods: In this exploratory mixed-method study, we collected all plain text reviews left between November 2013 and March 2020 by buyers of a toilet stool on Amazon. We adapted the Framework method to perform a seven-step process to analyze user reviews. We assigned numerical values from −5 (minimum) to +5 (maximum) to perceived effectiveness and overall satisfaction.Results: We included comments left by 10,027 customers who purchased 19 different types of toilet stools (79.1% seven-inch stools, 16.1% folding stools, 4.8% other stools). Perceived effectiveness and overall satisfaction were high (median = 5 and interquartile range = 0 for both variables). Eighty-one individuals reported adverse events related to toilet stool use, mainly musculoskeletal pain (N = 26), numbness in the lower limbs (N = 16), falls (n = 11), constipation (N = 9), anorectal symptom (N = 8), and cramps (N = 6).Conclusion: Perceived effectiveness and overall satisfaction were rated high by those who purchased a toilet stool online. In addition, their use seems to be safe (<1% reported adverse effects). Our results suggest a good risk-benefit ratio. The device may offer an inexpensive option to treat or prevent constipation, and may reduce the frequency of medical visits and the risks associated with long-term use of laxatives. %U https://www.jabfm.org/content/jabfp/35/4/836.full.pdf