title: Further validation of the IBS-QOL: a disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There has been growing interest in the investigation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. We recently reported on the development and preliminary validation of the IBS-QOL, a specific quality-of-life measure for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this study was to determine the longitudinal construct validity (responsiveness) of the IBS-QOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female patients enrolled in a multicenter treatment trial for functional bowel disorders were studied pre- and posttreatment with the IBS-QOL and other health status measures. Based on the response to treatment for several variables (pain/14-day score, daily function, and days in bed/3 months), patients were stratified into Responders, Partial Responders, and Nonresponders. Change scores in the IBS-QOL were then statistically compared with changes in the other variables to determine their correlation and whether Responders were significantly different from non- and Partial Responders on the IBS-QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between change scores on the IBS-QOL and the other measures of treatment effect (Pain/14 days, r = 0.25, p < 0.002; Sickness Impact Profile [SIP] Total Score, r = 0.28, p < 0.0004). In addition, the IBS-QOL scores significantly differentiated Responders from Nonresponders for most of the variables tested (regression trend test for Pain/14 days, p < 0.04; SIP Total, p < 0.0001; SIP Physical, p < 0.0001; SIP Psychosocial, p < 0.002, and SIP Eating, p < 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IBS-QOL is responsive to treatment in a referral-based clinical population of patients with functional bowel disorders.
authors.affiliation: UNC Center for Functional GI and Motility Disorders, Division of Digestive Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7080, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Drossman
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Toner
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Diamant
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bangdiwala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003891:Desipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012803:Sick Role; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003891:Desipramine