Lifestyle Modification on Symptoms Reduction and Quality of Life Improvement among Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that require more attention. Lifestyle modification intervention is an important strategy to improve health, symptoms and quality of life of IBS patients. Aim of the study was to examine effect of lifestyle modification on symptoms reduction and quality of life improvement among adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Methods: Research design: A quasi experimental design (pre-posttest) was used to conduct the present study. Setting: This study was conducted in internal medicine outpatient clinic at University Hospital in Menoufia governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of 75 adults were recruited in this study. Tools: (1) An interviewing questionnaire consisted of three parts; I-Adults' socio-demographic data II-Adults' clinical data. III-Adults , knowledge questionnaire about IBS (2) IBS-Severity Symptom Scale. (3) IBS-QOL questionnaire. Results: After implementation of lifestyle intervention, the total mean score of knowledge was improved from 43.90 ±10.57 to 79.69 ±7.27 and the total mean score of IBS-symptoms were reduced from 223.56 ±65.50 to 151.93 ±79.55. Also, there was a highly statistical significant improvement in total IBS-quality of life score among study sample at (p <0.001). Conclusions: Lifestyle modification intervention for three months had a positive effect and significantly reduce IBS symptoms, enhance knowledge and succeeded in improving quality of life among adults with irritable bowel syndrome. Recommendation: Continuous patients' education about IBS disease should be planned regularly in outpatient clinic to control the disease symptoms and reduce its unwanted effect on quality of life.