Address of Corresponding Author

Digestion 2004;70:210-213 (DOI: 10.1159/000082891)

  Key Words

• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Diagnostic criteria

  Abstract

Background/Aims: Symptom-based criteria have been introduced to aid the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Although they have been widely adopted and have proved useful for research purposes by ensuring homogeneity of study populations, there is little information about their utility in routine clinical practice. It was the aim of this study to assess the applicability of the Manning, Rome I and Rome II criteria in the clinical setting and to ascertain how often hospital specialists and general practitioners (GPs) use them. Methods: Hundred secondary-care IBS patients were assessed for their conformity to these criteria. Forty-eight hospital specialists and 68 GPs were asked about their knowledge and utilization of these criteria. Results: Seventy-three percent of IBS patients met Rome II diagnostic criteria with 82 and 94% meeting Rome I and Manning, respectively. Approximately 80% of GPs had no knowledge of any of the specific criteria, and only 4% had ever used them. The majority of specialists had knowledge of the criteria, with 70% having used them. Conclusion: The Rome II criteria are remarkably insensitive and if rigidly applied in the clinical situation would lead to much diagnostic uncertainty. The current lack of interest in them, especially amongst GPs, is unlikely to change unless they can be considerably improved.

Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

P.J. Whorwell
Education and Research Centre
Wythenshawe Hospital
Manchester, M23 9LT (UK)
Tel. +44 161 291 5813, Fax +44 161 434 5194, E-Mail peter.whorwell@smuht.nwest.nhs.uk

  Article Information

Received: October 21, 2003
Accepted: June 1, 2004
Published online: December 21, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 12