Table 1. Study sample‘s sociodemographic variables and symptoms in the last three weeks (n = 1057)
Aged 40–49 years, n (%)Aged 0–59 years, n (%)Total, n (%)P value
Sex
Men281 (54.5)283 (52.3)564 (53.4)0.484
Women235 (45.5)258 (47.7)493 (46.6)
Marital status
Single or divorced or separated166 (32.2)196 (36.2)362 (34.2)0.165
Married or cohabiting350 (67.8)345 (63.8)695 (65.8)
Education
No A-levels170 (32.9)225 (41.6)395 (37.4)0.004
A-levels346 (67.1)316 (58.4)662 (62.6)
Paid employment
No109 (21.1)201 (37.2)310 (29.3)<0.001
Yes407 (78.9)340 (62.8)747 (70.7)
Ethnic group
White461 (89.3)510 (94.3)971 (91.9)0.003
BAME55 (10.7)31 (5.7)86 (8.1)
Numeracy question
Wrong227 (44.0)241 (44.5)468 (44.3)0.856
Correct289 (56.0)300 (55.5)589 (55.7)
Own perceived risk
Lower87 (16.9)91 (16.8)178 (16.8)0.436
Same369 (71.5)400 (73.9)769 (72.8)
Higher60 (11.6)50 (9.2)110 (10.4)
Constipation
Not at all429 (83.1)424 (78.7)853 (80.9)0.065
Occ/frequ87 (16.9)115 (21.3)202 (19.1)
Diarrhoea
Not at all411 (80.0)430 (79.6)841 (79.8)0.893
Occ/frequ103 (20.0)110 (20.4)213 (20.2)
Bowel incontinence
Not at all500 (97.3)521 (96.5)1021 (96.9)0.459
Occ/frequ14 (2.7)19 (3.5)33 (3.1)
Indigestion
Not at all533 (79.8)491 (73.9)1024 (76.8)0.024
Occ/frequ245 (20.2)270 (26.1)515 (23.2)
  • BAME = black and minority ethnic. Occ/frequ = occassionally or frequently