Abstract
Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as assessed by the Rome IV criteria. Methods: Consecutive patients referring for IBS were re-evaluated according to the Rome IV criteria. Demographic features and characteristics potentially associated with the use of CAM were collected. A validated, self-administered, survey questionnaire dealing with CAM and patients’ level of knowledge, motivation, perception, and information seeking-behavior toward the use of CAM was analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify predictors of CAM use among participants. Results: Among 156 patients claiming IBS, 137 (88%) met the Rome IV criteria, and 62 of them (45%) were CAM users. Biologically based therapy was the most chosen CAM (78%). Significant risk factors (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) for the use of CAM were female gender (7.22, 2.31–22.51), a higher BMI (1.16, 1.02–1.33), and a good knowledge of CAM (4.46, 1.73–11.45), while having children was a protective factor (0.25, 0.07–0.95). Only 19% of patients used CAM due to medical advice and over half (51%) thought it was a “more natural” approach. Although a minority of patients (16%) had full satisfaction from CAM, 81% of users would repeat the CAM experience for their IBS symptoms. Conclusions: The widespread use of CAM in IBS, the patients’ belief in its safety, and their willingness to re-use it suggest that knowledge of health-care providers and patient education should be improved.
Highlights
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, affecting 7–15% of the general population [1]
Patients aged ≥18 years, who were consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic with a previous diagnosis of IBS, were re-evaluated for this condition according to the Roma IV criteria (Table 1) [13]
Of the 156 patients who were consecutively admitted to the outpatient clinic with a previous diagnosis of IBS, 137 (88%) met the Rome IV criteria and accepted to fill the survey form
Summary
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, affecting 7–15% of the general population [1]. It is a condition characterized by a combination of chronic abdominal pain associated with a change in the frequency or form of stool [2]. Clinical characterization of IBS remains difficult due to the heterogeneous phenotypes, as well as the etiology, the pathophysiological mechanisms of which are still under investigation [3,4]. Treatments are targeted toward these plausible mechanisms, but benefits from drug therapy are limited and the negative impact of IBS on quality of life involves a significant use burden on healthcare resources, with high direct and indirect costs [6].
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