Prevalence and risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome among medical students in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: A chronic functional gastrointestinal illness known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is primarily distinguished by changed bowel habits, abdominal pain and bloating/distention. There are a considerable proportion of medical students in Saudi Arabia who suffers from IBS due to different risk factors. Our study aimed to determine prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its risk factors among many medical students from different universities in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This is an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Saudi Arabia from July 2022 to January 2023. The sample size was involving 402 with a 95% confidence interval, a 5% margin of error. The data was collected through a standardized clear questionnaire and its analysis will be done using SPSS version 25. Results: 18.7% of the studied population was previously with IBS. 26.6% always face a lot of stress, 34.6% sometimes consume sugar to deal with stress. 42.5% had a positive family history for IBS. 7.2% had previously undergone an abdominal surgery. 13.7% take NSAIDS regularly. Conclusion: The prevalence of IBS was higher among females than among males and was highest among fifth-year medical students. Most of the participants had moderate or high levels of anxiety. Stress management activities and student counseling sessions are recommended to decrease anxiety levels.