TY - JOUR T1 - A self help guidebook reduced primary care consultations in irritable bowel syndrome JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 179 LP - 179 DO - 10.1136/ebm.11.6.179 VL - 11 IS - 6 A2 - , Y1 - 2006/12/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/11/6/179.abstract N2 - 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 ★★★★★☆☆ Design: randomised controlled trial. Allocation: concealed.* Blinding: unblinded.* Follow up period: 1 year. Setting: 54 general practices in the UK. Patients: 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. Intervention: 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 … ER -