A holistic approach for planning care of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The aims of this study were to determine whether a registered nurse can collect information and plan a holistic and individual strategy for the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and whether this approach can reduce these patients' health aspects. The referrals of 50 Swedish-speaking female patients aged between 18 and 65 years with the preliminary diagnosis of IBS were collected and scrutinized by a gastroenterologist at a university hospital. Of these, 41 patients agreed to participate but 2 did not show up. The 39 patients were randomized into one of two groups: (1) the intervention group (n = 19) where the subjects were interviewed on the basis of the theory of culture care by a nurse before visiting a gastroenterologist and (2) the control group (n = 20) where the subjects first met a gastroenterologist. After the medical examination, 19 subjects were found to have diseases other than IBS. The interview gave a holistic view of the subjects' problems, which could be of use when planning further care. Because subjects sometimes did not receive an accurate diagnosis by their primary care physician, however, the clinic nurse could not give these subjects IBS-specific information because the subjects' diagnosis had not been established. The initial medical assessments based on the primary care doctors' care of many subjects with IBS symptoms were a noted weak point.

Malnutrition prevalence and precision in nutritional care differed in relation to hospital volume--a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: To explore the point prevalence of the risk of malnutrition and the targeting of nutritional interventions in relation to undernutrition risk and hospital volume. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey performed in nine hospitals including 2 170 (82.8%) patients that agreed to participate. The hospitals were divided into large, middle, and small sized hospitals. Undernutrition risk and overweight (including obesity) were assessed. RESULTS: The point prevalence of moderate/high undernutrition risk was 34%, 26% and 22% in large, middle and small sized hospitals respectively. The corresponding figures for overweight were 38%, 43% and 42%. The targeting of nutritional interventions in relation to moderate/high undernutrition risk was, depending on hospital size, that 7-17% got Protein- and Energy Enriched food (PE-food), 43-54% got oral supplements, 8-22% got artificial nutrition, and 14-20% received eating assistance. Eating assistance was provided to a greater extent and artificial feeding to a lesser extent in small compared to in middle and large sized hospitals. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of malnutrition risk and the precision in provision of nutritional care differed significantly depending on hospital volume, i.e. case mix. It can be recommended that greater efforts should be taken to increase the use of PE-food and oral supplements for patients with eating problems in order to prevent or treat undernutrition. A great effort needs to be taken in order to also decrease the occurrence of overweight.

A course of instruction for women with irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects a course of instruction about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) might have on symptoms, psychological well-being, and medical care requirements in these patients. METHODS: Twenty-nine women with IBS participated in a programme of instruction on medical care, physical activity, stress-management, diet and health insurance. The women completed the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and the Psychological General Well-Being Index and provided information about their requirements of medical care before and after the course. RESULTS: Twenty-three of the women included, completed the questionnaires at 12 months after the course. When comparing these values to those at baseline, there were improvements in abdominal pain (p < 0.037) and vitality (p < 0.045) as well as a reduction in the number of visits to physicians (p < 0.037) and dieticians (p < 0.042). CONCLUSION: Information related to the disease, might help women with IBS to perceive less pain and more vitality and thereby experience a higher quality of life. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: A course of instruction for patients with IBS may be of benefit for the patients, and could be a part of a multicomponent approach in the treatment of this patient group.