Aim: The study was done to determine the prevalence and associated factors of IBS among paramedical students at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Methods:A cross-sectional study was done during 2016/2017 at the Faculty of Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. A multistage stratified random sample method was used to select 525 paramedical students. A standardized self-administered data collection sheet was used and contained the validated scales of Rome III Criteria, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).Results: One-third of the paramedical students met the Rome-III criteria of IBS. Nursing and dentistry students had higher IBS prevalence compared to others. IBS-Mixed and IBS-Constipation were the commonest sub-types. IBS was associated with female gender, educational specialty, family history of IBS, family income, chronic medical conditions, food hypersensitivity, traveler's diarrhea, poor sleep quality, stress, anxiety, and depression. Regression analysis revealed that female gender (aOR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.12-3.28), stress, depression, IBS family history and poor sleeping were IBS predictors after controlling of confounding factors.
Conclusion:The prevalence of IBS was high among paramedical students, and it was predicted by gender, stress, depression, poor sleeping, and family history. Screening for IBS and psychological problems, stress management courses and IBS educational programs are recommended for paramedical students.