Patient Pathways & NHS Resource Use in IBS Management

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Real World study to describe the patient pathways and NHS resource use associated with the management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in UK clinical practice

  • IRAS ID

    123594

  • Contact name

    Ian Caldwell

  • Contact email

    i.caldwell@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Almirall Limited

  • Research summary

    There is national clinical practice guidance on the diagnosis and management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), but there is little evidence to show whether this is being followed in the real world. Anecdotally, patient care pathways are thought to vary and may involve inappropriate or unnecessary and costly investigations and treatments with associated risk to patient safety. This descriptive study will explore this by multi-centre, retrospective note review of the management of patients with IBS in a region of the UK. The study will involve retrospective review of primary care electronic patient record systems, supplemented with review of paper records and referral letters to and from secondary care where necessary. The study will describe the patient pathways and health care resource use associated with the management of IBS.
    The study will be conducted in 6-8 primary care general practices in the Greater Manchester Comprehensive Local Research Network, in a random cross section of patients.

  • REC name

    London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/LO/0692

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 May 2013

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion