Dig Dis Sci. 2022 Apr 1. doi: 10.1007/s10620-022-07464-1. Online ahead of print.

Nicola A Bray ¹, Natasha A Koloski ^2 3, Michael P Jones ⁴, Anh Do ², Siong Pang ², Jeff S Coombes ¹, Sarah McAllister ², Jane Campos ², Leela Arthur ², Paul Stanley ², Katherine DeMaria ², Che-Yung Chao ², Rachel Catague ², Amanda Whaley ², Nicholas J Talley ³, Gerald J Holtmann ^5 6

Author information

¹Faculties of Medicine and Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland/TRI, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

²Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

³College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle/AGIRA, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.

⁴School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Ryde, NSW, Australia.

⁵Faculties of Medicine and Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland/TRI, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. g.holtmann@uq.edu.au.

⁶Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. g.holtmann@uq.edu.au.

Abstract

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are linked to a variety of potential causes, and treatments include reassurance, life-style (including diet), psychological, or pharmacologic interventions.

Aims: To assess whether a multidisciplinary integrated treatment approach delivered in a dedicated integrated care clinic (ICC) was superior to the standard model of care in relation to the gastrointestinal symptom burden.

Methods: A matched cohort of 52 consecutive patients with severe manifestation of FGID were matched with 104 control patients based upon diagnosis, gender, age, and symptom severity. Patients in the ICC received structured assessment and 12-weeks integrated treatment sessions provided as required by gastroenterologist and allied health team. Control patients received standard medical care at the same tertiary center with access to allied health services as required but no standardized interprofessional team approach. Primary outcome was reduction in gastrointestinal symptom burden as measured by the Structured Assessment of Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scale (SAGIS). Secondary outcome was reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: Mixed models estimated the within ICC change in SAGIS total as -9.7 (95% CI -13.6, -5.8; p < 0.0001), compared with -1.7 (95% CI -4.0, 0.6; p = 0.15) for controls. The difference between groups reached statistical significance, -7.6 (95% CI -11.4, -3.8; p < 0.0001). Total HADS scores in ICC patients were 3.4 points lower post-intervention and reached statistical significance (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: This matched cohort study demonstrates superior short-term outcomes of FGID patients in a structured multidisciplinary care setting as compared to standard care.