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. 1997 Sep;41(3):394-8.
doi: 10.1136/gut.41.3.394.

Predictors of health care seeking for irritable bowel syndrome: a population based study

N J Talley  1 , P M Boyce, M Jones
Affiliations

Predictors of health care seeking for irritable bowel syndrome: a population based study

N J Talley et al. Gut. 1997 Sep.

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that psychological factors rather than symptoms drive subjects with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to seek medical care, but this issue has not been tackled in a population based study.

Aim: To identify whether psychological factors or abuse explain health care seeking for IBS.

Methods: A sample of residents of Penrith (a Sydney suburb representative of the Australian population) selected randomly from the electoral rolls (that by law include the entire population > or = 18 years) was mailed a validated self-report questionnaire. Measured were gastrointestinal symptoms including the Manning (and Rome) criteria for IBS, health care seeking, neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), psychological morbidity (General Health Questionnaire: GHQ) and sexual, physical and emotional abuse (including the standardised Drossman questions).

Results: Among 730 subjects, 96 (13%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 11-16%) had IBS by the Manning criteria. Of those with IBS, 73% (95% CI 63-81%) had sought medical care for abdominal pain or discomfort. Only increasing pain severity (odds ratio (OR) = 2.10, 95% CI 1.11-3.95) and duration of pain (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.10-2.13) were independently associated with seeking health care for IBS. Pain severity was also predictive of recent care seeking (OR = 1.74, 95% CI 1.12-1.96). Neuroticism, psychological morbidity and abuse history were not significant predictors.

Conclusion: Psychological factors do not seem to explain health care seeking among community subjects with IBS.

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Comment in

  • Who needs a doctor for IBS?
    Creed F. Creed F. Gut. 1997 Sep;41(3):415-6. doi: 10.1136/gut.41.3.415. Gut. 1997. PMID: 9378404 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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