Development and Testing of a Questionnaire for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Author Information
Author(s): Bengtsson Mariette, Ohlsson Bodil, Ulander Kerstin
Primary Institution: Malmö University Hospital, Sweden
Hypothesis
The study aims to develop and psychometrically test a short, patient-reported questionnaire for assessing symptoms and well-being in patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Conclusion
The VAS-IBS is a reliable and user-friendly questionnaire for assessing IBS symptoms and well-being.
Supporting Evidence
- The VAS-IBS showed high internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85.
- All correlations for criterion validity were statistically significant.
- The questionnaire was easy for patients to complete and calculate.
Takeaway
Researchers created a simple questionnaire to help doctors understand how patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome feel, making it easier to track their symptoms over time.
Methodology
The VAS-IBS was tested for content and criterion validity, internal reliability, and acceptability using feedback from an expert panel and a sample of patients with IBS.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of male participants and reliance on self-reported data.
Limitations
The study primarily included women, and the VAS-IBS needs further testing in diverse populations and clinical settings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 71 female patients with IBS, mean age 38 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.0001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.0001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website