Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33642629›Full record

ArticleThe Ulster medical journal2021

Prevalence, Behaviours and Burden of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Medical Students and Junior Doctors.

Pisani Anthea, Farrugia Tiziana, Panzavecchia Francesca, Ellul Pierre

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Ulster medical journal, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
1.0field-weighted citation impact, top 25% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Pisani Anthea35, Triq San Pacifiku, Mosta, MST 1220, Malta. 00356 79297926.
Farrugia Tiziana35, Triq San Pacifiku, Mosta, MST 1220, Malta. 00356 79297926.
Panzavecchia Francesca35, Triq San Pacifiku, Mosta, MST 1220, Malta. 00356 79297926.
Ellul Pierre35, Triq San Pacifiku, Mosta, MST 1220, Malta. 00356 79297926.
AquaBioTech Group (Malta) · MT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder which can have a strong impact on patients' quality of life including influence on various social aspects and psychological ramifications. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and consequences of IBS in medical students and junior doctors in Malta.

methodAn online survey was sent out to all medical students enrolled at University of Malta and all doctors training with the Malta Foundation Programme. KEY

resultsThe prevalence of IBS was 17.7% (total number =192), with 6.2% being previously diagnosed with IBS and the rest (11.5%) having symptoms consistent with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria. There was no statistically significant difference in BMI and in activity level as determined by the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire between IBS and non-IBS group.Absenteeism was significantly commoner in students/ doctors with IBS (47.1%) than in those without IBS (9.5%; p=0.0001). Of those previously diagnosed with IBS, 66.7% self-medicated compared to 45.4% of those diagnosed through the questionnaire. 71.6% of those in the IBS group tried dietary modification as to control their symptoms.On the Kessler 6 Distress scale, 91.2% of the IBS group had a score >6, with 44.1% having a score >13. The mean Visceral Sensitivity Index Score was 40.1 (95% CI 33.6 - 46.6).

conclusionIBS is prevalent, yet under-recognized, in medical students and junior doctors. Measures should be instituted for timely, confidential detection and management of IBS and its related psychological consequences.

Indexed as

AdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIrritable Bowel SyndromeMaleMaltaMedical Staff, HospitalPrevalenceQuality of LifeSex DistributionStudents, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultanxietydepressionIrritable bowel syndromejunior physiciansmedical students

Identifiers

PMID33642629
PMCPMC7907899
OpenAlexW3135325126

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.