Biomaterial Database

Irritable bowel syndrome: what do patients really want? 2011

Albena Halpert

Section of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Boston School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. alhalper@bmc.org

Knowing what patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) want or expect from their medical care is critical in helping them manage the symptoms of this common, chronic gastrointestinal condition. Failure to identify patient expectations can lead to patient dissatisfaction with care, lack of compliance with prescribed treatments, and the inappropriate use of medical resources. Surprisingly little is known about what patients with IBS really want. Several studies suggest that IBS patients value the relational aspects of medical care as highly as technical skills and knowledge. There seems to be a significant communication gap between health care providers and patients regarding IBS care. This article reviews what is known about IBS patients' expectations and needs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010817	Physician-Patient Relations	The interactions between physician and patient.	Doctor-Patient Relations,Doctor Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relations,Physician Patient Relationship,Doctor Patient Relation,Doctor-Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relation,Physician Patient Relationships,Physician-Patient Relation,Relation, Doctor Patient,Relation, Doctor-Patient,Relation, Physician Patient,Relation, Physician-Patient,Relations, Doctor Patient,Relations, Doctor-Patient,Relations, Physician Patient,Relations, Physician-Patient,Relationship, Physician Patient,Relationships, Physician Patient
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D043183	Irritable Bowel Syndrome	A disorder with chronic or recurrent colonic symptoms without a clearcut etiology. This condition is characterized by chronic or recurrent ABDOMINAL PAIN, bloating, MUCUS in FECES, and an erratic disturbance of DEFECATION.	Colitis, Mucous,Colon, Irritable,Colitides, Mucous,Irritable Bowel Syndromes,Irritable Colon,Mucous Colitides,Mucous Colitis,Syndrome, Irritable Bowel,Syndromes, Irritable Bowel