Patient preferences of healthcare delivery in irritable bowel syndrome: a focus group study

Abstract

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent disorder with significant negative impact on quality of life of patients that results in high healthcare use and costs. Improving healthcare outcomes for IBS patients is warranted, however the exact needs of IBS patients with regard to therapy and control of symptoms are unknown. Methods Focus group interviews, using a two-stage model, were performed with twenty-three IBS patients meeting Rome III criteria and one mother of a patient, from four different regions from the Netherlands. Results Twenty-four participants were included of whom majority were female (n = 21), mean age was 43 years, and mean duration of IBS was 18 years. Five categories of patients’ perspectives were identified: clear communication, a multidisciplinary treatment team, centers of expertise, focus on scientific research and information about IBS that is widely available for patients. Conclusions Based on these findings we highlight the need for IBS care givers to take these key items into account in IBS care. These elements aid clinicians, but mostly patients, in coping and management of symptoms and subsequent healthcare outcomes, reducing overall healthcare use and costs.

Editorial: definition of factors associated with poor quality of life in patients with IBS—but where to from here? Authorsʼ reply

“…5 In addition, a recent qualitative study demonstrated that patients with IBS preferred a multidisciplinary team approach. 6 Despite these findings, the uptake of multidisciplinary treatment for IBS has been slow. Although we agree with Thwaites and Burgell that the main reason for this may relate to a lack of funding, we believe that there may be other factors contributing to this.…”

“…Importantly, quality of life scores were significantly higher with multidisciplinary team care compared with standard care, an effect that was sustained even 12 months after completion of treatment 5 . In addition, a recent qualitative study demonstrated that patients with IBS preferred a multidisciplinary team approach 6 …”

Using a Patient Hotel: Perceptions of the Quality of Care by Patients Undergoing Analysis for Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders in the Netherlands

“… 9 Improving quality of care for these patients can be achieved through open communication with patients, 10 and by logistics such as combining expertise in highly specialized centers. 11 , 12 Due to increasing healthcare demands with concomitant centralization of expertise on complex GI motility disorders, patients are referred for analysis and treatment in tertiary referral centers. From patients’ perspective regarding satisfaction and experience, it is unknown how to structure testing and analysis in tertiary centers and whether a patient hotel model can improve patients’ quality of care.…”