Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patient Experience: A Survey of Patient-Reported Symptoms by Irritable Bowel Syndrome Subtype and Impact on Quality of Life.

Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic, debilitating, functional gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel behaviours of constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or a mixture of both (IBS-M). There is limited information published on the impact of symptoms on everyday life in the Canadian population.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with individuals diagnosed with IBS to capture the severity and frequency of patient-reported symptoms, including impact on productivity, quality of life, healthcare utilization, treatment access, and corresponding symptom relief.

Patient Experiences with Infection: Results of a Canada-Wide Survey.

Purpose: infection (CDI) is the most prevalent cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in Canada and is highly correlated with antibiotic use and contact with health care facilitates. The often-severe symptoms of CDI include diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal pain. Patients often relapse following symptom resolution, resulting in increased morbidity.