title: Structured patient education is superior to written information in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Education and reassurance are proposed to be of great importance in the management of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but few trials supporting this are available. Our aim was to compare the effects of a structured patient group education (IBS school) versus receiving written information in the form of an IBS guidebook, on knowledge, symptoms, and quality of life in IBS patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with IBS according to the Rome II criteria were randomized to participate in the group education or to receive the guidebook. The effects were evaluated by self-administered questionnaires at 3 and 6 months after baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and forty-three patients - 71 in the guidebook group and 72 in the IBS school group - completed the study. Compared with the guidebook group, the patients in the education group showed greater reduction in IBS symptom severity and gastrointestinal (GI)-specific anxiety, as well as greater improvement in perceived knowledge of IBS. Several aspects of health-related quality of life were significantly improved after the group education, but not in the group who received the written information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A structured patient group education is superior to written information to enhance knowledge of IBS, and improve GI symptoms and GI-specific anxiety in IBS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden. gisela.ringstrom@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ringström
authors.forename: Stine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Störsrud
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Posserud
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lundqvist
authors.forename: Berndt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westman
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simrén
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult