Long-term impact of irritable bowel syndrome: a qualitative study

Farndale, Rebecca; Roberts, Lesley

doi:10.1017/s1463423610000095

Cited by 53Gastrointestinal motility and disordersInfant Health and DevelopmentPsychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Long-term impact of irritable bowel syndrome: a qualitative study

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Farndale, Rebecca, Roberts, Lesley·2011·Primary Health Care Research & Development

DOI 10.1017/s1463423610000095

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Aim: To explore how irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) impacts on patients’ lives in order to explain the reported reduction in quality of life (QOL). Background: IBS affects 10–20% of the population and over half of the people with the condition consult in primary care, with many consultations ending unsatisfactorily. IBS is known to have a detrimental effect on the QOL, though the mechanisms through which this is affected are poorly understood. A greater understanding of the patient experience of IBS would facilitate better healthcare provision. Methods: Eighteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews were undertaken in the West Midlands, United Kingdom from August 2006 to March 2008. Interviews were carried out until data saturation was achieved. All interviewees had previously taken part in one of the two recent primary care-based IBS studies and were long-term sufferers of IBS. Participants were purposively sampled to capture a range of experiences and included both genders, a range of ages, symptom severity scores and IBS sub-types. Findings: In contrast to the previously reported ‘worried well’ label, participants reported integration of the disease into their lives to the extent that it became a part of their identity. Even so, IBS did at times prevent their participation in everyday activities. Strategies used by participants to manage symptoms were an integral part of daily living and events which threatened routine coping strategies caused stress and exacerbated symptoms. Both adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were identified. These were in part patient created, but for many incorporated advice or medication provided by their doctor. The findings not only confirm the extensive impact of IBS on daily living but also expose the additional impacts of IBS on emotional well-being and self-identity. The reduced QOL reported in previous studies may be an underestimate of the impact of IBS on patients’ lives as patients integrate coping mechanisms completely into daily living.

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Current treatments for IBS are often inadequate and many patients remain unsatisfied with medical care.
“Current treatments for IBS are often inadequate and many patients remain unsatisfied with medical care.91 92 95”
From British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (2021) · cites this paper as [95]

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British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome
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Authors: Farndale, R., & Roberts, L.
Affiliations: University of Birmingham (GB)
Corresponding author: Roberts, Lesley
ORCID: Roberts, Lesley
Venue: Primary Health Care Research & Development
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2010-07-14
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Pages: 52-67
ISSN: 1463-4236 (ISSN-L)
1477-1128
DOI: 10.1017/s1463423610000095
OpenAlex: W2095607347
Cited by: 53
References: 47
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5
FWCI: 1.98
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations: Primary Health Care Research & Development (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
Keywords: irritable bowel syndrome, quality of life, patient experience, coping strategies, symptom management, emotional well-being, self-identity, everyday life, long-term effects, primary care
MeSH terms: Activities of Daily Living, Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Emotions, Female, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Interview, Psychological, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Stress, Psychological, Time Factors, Qualitative Research, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Long-term impact of irritable bowel syndrome: a qualitative study

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