Impact of an active patient education program on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with celiac disease following a gluten-free diet: a randomized controlled trial.
Despite living with a gluten-free diet, Swedish women with celiac disease report a higher rate of gastrointestinal symptoms than women without the disease. This study was designed to assess the impact of active patient education on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with a gluten-free diet. A total of 106 Swedish women, aged 20 years or older, with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet for a minimum of 5 years took part in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group (n = 54) underwent a 10-session educational program, "Celiac School," based on problem-based learning. Controls (n = 52) were sent information regarding celiac disease at home. The outcome measure was gastrointestinal symptoms at 10 weeks and 6 months after intervention, assessed with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. After 10 weeks of "Celiac School," the participating women reported significant improvements that remained 6 months later (p = .029). The controls did not improve significantly. A comparison of the development of scores, from baseline to 10 weeks, could not demonstrate a significant difference in the overall index between the 2 groups but showed a significant improvement concerning 1 of its components, namely the index reflecting Abdominal Pain (p = .007). Intervention methods should be refined to reach an even more pronounced effect.
Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden. lisa.ring.jacobsson@liu.se
Lisa Ring
LR
Jacobsson
Maria
M
Friedrichsen
Anne
A
Göransson
Claes
C
Hallert
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult