Effects of Self-Management Interventions in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Systematic Review

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent and costly condition, with expenditures exceeding US$21 billion annually. As there is no known cure for IBS, treatment is focused on symptom self-management strategies. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the efficacy and overall effect of self-management interventions for patients with IBS. Of the 64 publications that were identified, 20 were included in the systematic review. Self-management interventions were found in diverse formats, including web-based, self-training booklets, individual and/or group interventions with health care providers, and cognitive-behavioral therapy or exercise-based interventions. Different symptom measures were used across the studies, whereas measurement of quality of life was more standardized. Overall, there is robust evidence supporting self-management interventions for improving short-term symptom management and improving quality of life, whereas longer term outcomes are variable. Further studies are needed to use standardized symptom measures and tailor interventions for pediatric populations, and tracking longer term outcomes.

Effects of vitamin D3 supplementation on clinical symptoms, quality of life, serum serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), 5-hydroxy-indole acetic acid, and ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

“…Psychological disorders such as stress and depression are reported to be the main causes of this sensitivity (Garland et al, 2012[ 21 ]). The mechanism of the effect is not clear, but as discussed in some studies on visceral sensitivity in IBS patients, changes in neuromuscular immunity and disorders of intestinal microbial regulation can be the causes of this sensitivity (Cong et al, 2018[ 9 ]). There is no specific treatment for this disturbance and the treatment can be in the improvement of clinical symptoms, anxiety, depression, dietary regulation and physical activity of patients (Trinkley and Nahata 2014[ 66 ]).…”

Pain self‐management plus nurse‐led support in young adults with irritable bowel syndrome: Study protocol for a pilot randomized control trial

“…Eighty male and female young adults will be recruited to the study and randomized into the intervention or control group, with 40 subjects in each group. We estimated the sample size by reference to previous studies that evaluated effects of SM interventions for individuals with IBS (Cong, Perry, et al, 2017).…”

“…This pilot study was guided by the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory (IFSMT), in which SM takes place in the context of risk and protective factors specific to the condition, physical and social environment, and individual and family (Ryan & Sawin, 2009). Because it has already been shown that IBS-SM interventions are equal or superior to usual care (Cong, Perry, Bernier, Young, & Starkweather, 2017), the intervention tested the previous model against the addition of nurse-led social support component designed to personalize the use of SM skills and facilitate activation of skills into SM behaviors. Adolescents and young adults will be randomized to receive either the IBS pain SM intervention alone (control) or the IBS pain SM intervention plus the nurse-led support for monitoring and problem-solving (experimental group).…”

Treating irritable bowel syndrome through an interdisciplinary approach

“…They usually refer to minimal contact CBT and include selfstudy materials. There is evidence supporting self-management interventions for short-term symptom relief, but long-term outcomes are variable [77,78].…”