Quality of life measures in irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder with significant morbidity, resulting from the interaction of physiologic, psychological, social, cultural and behavioral factors. In view of this complex interaction, and in the absence of a measurable biological index of disease, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has emerged as an ideal measure for use in clinical trials and outcome studies. This article discusses the relevance of HRQoL measurement in IBS and its definition. It then explores the research methodology in HRQoL and describes how global measures and generic HRQoL instruments have been used in IBS. Finally, the IBS-specific HRQoL measures are described in detail, with an emphasis on their development, content and validation.

Keywords::

• irritable bowel syndrome
• outcome measures
• quality of life

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.