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Therapeutics
A self help guidebook reduced primary care consultations in irritable bowel syndrome

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebm.11.6.179

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    Robinson A, Lee V, Kennedy A, et al. A randomised controlled trial of self-help interventions in patients with a primary care diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Gut 2006;55:643–8.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text

    
 
 Q In patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), does a self help intervention in the form of a guidebook or group meetings reduce consultation rates and symptom severity?

    Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★★☆ IM/Ambulatory care ★★★★★☆☆ Gastroenterology ★★★★★☆☆

    METHODS

    Embedded ImageDesign:

    randomised controlled trial.

    Embedded ImageAllocation:

    concealed.*

    Embedded ImageBlinding:

    unblinded.*

    Embedded ImageFollow up period:

    1 year.

    Embedded ImageSetting:

    54 general practices in the UK.

    Embedded ImagePatients:

    420 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 40 y, 89% women) who had IBS diagnosed by a general practitioner or specialist and had consulted their general practitioner with gastrointestinal symptoms at least once in the past year. Patients unable to read or understand English were excluded.

    Embedded ImageIntervention:

    self help guidebook† containing information on lifestyle, diet, and drug and alternative treatments with current evidence and patients’ experiences (n = 141); guidebook plus an invitation to participate in a 2 hour self help group meeting with 8–12 patients facilitated by the …

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    Footnotes

    • ↵* See glossary.

    • ↵† Kennedy A, Robinson A. What should I do? A handy guide to managing irritable bowel syndrome. Southampton: RTFB Publishing, 2000.

    • For correspondence: Dr A Robinson, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK. andrew.robinson{at}srht.nhs.uk

    • Source of funding: Manchester, Stockport, and West Pennine Research and Development Liaison Group.

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      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
      BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine 2006; 11 191-191 Published Online First: 30 Nov 2006. doi: 10.1136/ebm.11.6.191-a