Rome III survey of irritable bowel syndrome among ethnic Malays.

Aim: To survey irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using Rome III criteria among Malays from the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Methods: A previously validated Malay language Rome III IBS diagnostic questionnaire was used in the current study. A prospective sample of 232 Malay subjects (80% power) was initially screened.

Validity and reliability of the Malay-language translation of the Rome III Diagnostic Questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome.

Background And Aim: The Malay language is widely used within the "Malay Archipelago" particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Brunei with a combined population of 300 million. There are no reliable data on the epidemiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the Malay speaking population because the Rome Diagnostic Questionnaire has not been translated and validated for the Malay language. The current study aimed to translate and validate the Rome III IBS Diagnostic Questionnaire, Red Flag and Psychosocial Alarm questionnaires into the Malay language.