The primary outcome measures for bowel function for each patient will be the proportion of days with at least one bowel movement a day, and the proportion of patients with a bowel movement at least 40 % and at least 50% of days. The secondary outcome variables of the study will be use of enemas, suppositories or lactulose, and reported cramping and/or diarrhoea. Diarrhoea will be defined as either passage of watery stool at least once a day, or more than 3 bowel movements a day. These were the same outcome variables used in the docusate study. Sites will be grouped according to type of setting (hospice, PCU, home etc). Sites with very similar patients will be combined for statistical analysis (for example the two Vancouver residential hospices to which patients are referred through a common process and assigned to according to bed availability).