Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41250023›Full record

Observational studyBMC public health2025

Irritable bowel syndrome and associated mental health problems among Middle East and North African medical students: a multicentric cross-sectional study.

Abdelrahman Abdelshafi, Belal Osama, Zeinab G Abdelhamid, Aboalmagd Hamdallah, Youssef Gouda Youssef, Hamza A Abdul-Hafez, Sara Sabbagh, Ziad Aljarad, Doaa Mohamed Osman, Doaa Mazen Abdel-Salam

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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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

10 authors.

Abdelrahman AbdelshafiFaculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Belal OsamaFaculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Zeinab G AbdelhamidDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Aboalmagd HamdallahFaculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta, Egypt.
Youssef Gouda YoussefFaculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
Hamza A Abdul-HafezDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Sara SabbaghFaculty of medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
Ziad AljaradUniversity of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic.
Doaa Mohamed OsmanDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Doaa Mazen Abdel-SalamDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. doaa.mazen@aun.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7724-9515

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal discomfort or pain, accompanied by alterations in bowel habits. Its exact pathophysiology remains unclear, but mental health problems are recognized as a major risk factor. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of IBS among medical students and explore its association with various factors, including comorbid mental health issues.

methodsThis multicentric cross-sectional study employed an online self-administered questionnaire, distributed among medical students from 27 faculties of medicine across seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Universities were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Possible associates were evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire for adult IBS.

resultsA total of 8,275 medical students completed the questionnaire, with 40.1% diagnosed with IBS according to the Rome IV criteria. Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed significant associates of IBS, including female gender (AOR = 1.56, p < 0.001), enrollment in the third academic year (AOR = 1.23, p = 0.003) or higher (AOR = 1.44, p = 0.001), lack of regular exercise (AOR = 1.18, p = 0.003), and living alone or on campus (AOR = 1.18, p = 0.006). Additionally, a history of food or drug hypersensitivity (AOR = 1.49, p < 0.001) and overweight or obesity (AOR = 1.19, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with IBS. Medical students experiencing depression (AOR = 2.38, p < 0.001) and anxiety (AOR = 1.91, p < 0.001) were found to be more susceptible to developing IBS.

conclusionIBS is a prevalent health issue among medical students. Nearly 40% of them suffered from IBS. In addition to certain personal and academic factors, increased rates of depression and anxiety among medical students in the Middle East and North Africa are associated with a higher probability of developing IBS.

Indexed as

Irritable Bowel SyndromeMental DisordersStudents, MedicalAdultAfrica, NorthernCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle EastPrevalenceRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAnd medical studentsAssociatesIrritable bowel syndromeMental health problems

Identifiers

PMID41250023
PMCPMC12621377

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.