Treatment of IBS in Primary Health Care: Adherence to Guidelines

The defining features of IBS comprise the presence of recurrent abdominal pain in association with altered bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation or both), as stated in the Rome IV criteria. The spectrum, duration and severity of symptoms can range from inconvenient to incapacitating, and can prevent individuals from participating in everyday activities. Despite the prevalence of IBS, its management remains a challenge for global healthcare systems.

Treatment of IBS comprises, in summary, information to patients, dietary treatment, pharmacological treatment and psychological treatment. Pharmacological treatment includes antidepressants, bulking agents or fiber supplements, rifaximin, linaclotide, eluxadoline, loperamide, antispasmodics, prokinetics and probiotics.

Since the majority of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are diagnosed and treated in primary care, the aim of this project is to investigate the adherence of general practitioners (GPs) to recommended therapeutic approaches for IBS.

In this study, data regarding therapeutic approaches will be collected retrospectively over the period of 2013-2019 by using the electronic patient register in Örebro Region. Patients will be identified by ICD-code K.58. The used treatments will be categorized in grade of recommendation as well as in strength of evidence. The efficacy of the used treatments will be evaluated, if possible. Over the counter agents, and lifestyle adjustments will not be evaluated.

The used treatments will be categorized in grade of recommendation (weak and strong) as well as in strength of evidence /very low, low, moderate and high). The eventual use of inappropriate treatments will be recorded as well. The efficacy of the used treatments will be, if possible, evaluated from the patient registers. The standardized and validated questionnaires IBS-Symptom Severity Score and IBS-Quality of Life scores are not routinely used within the primary health care. For this reason, the efficacy of the treatments will be categorized in "no effect, moderate effect and good effect".