Source: Curr Pain Headache Report  |  Posted 9 years ago

The irritable bowel syndrome Severity Scoring System (IBS SSS) is preferable in obtaining a more detailed assessment of irritable bowel symptoms in patients enrolled in research programs, say Dutch researchers.

They also agree the IBS Quality of Life measurement is the best choice of five IBS-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scales currently in use, because it has been the most extensively validated and it shows appropriate psychometric quality.

Investigators from University Medical Centre Utrecht evaluated and compared the validity and appropriateness of available IBS outcome measures because there is no consensus on a preferred outcome measure for IBS. A literature search identified five IBS symptom scales and five IBS HRQOL scales.

Reviewers independently rated the scales by predetermined psychometric and methodological validation criteria.

Two symptom scales were rated as good: the Adequate Relief question and the IBS SSS. The Adequate Relief question scored best and was considered easy to interpret and appropriate for use. The researchers say the practical utility of the IBS SSS is debatable, although it performed well on psychometric capacities.

Practical utility was deemed poor on all five IBS-specific HRQOL scales. However, the investigators suggest the IBS Quality of Life measurement is the best choice of the five. They say it can be used to establish changes in health-related quality of life in IBS patients.

The Adequate Relief question was judged the measure of first choice in assessing global symptomatology as an outcome. For more detailed symptom assessment, the IBS SSS was recommended.