Health-related quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease: a comparison of patients receiving nurse-led versus conventional follow-up care.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic disorder with a considerable negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). During the past decade, IBD nurse specialists have been increasingly involved in follow-up care of IBD outpatients, in a consultative and coordinating role, closely cooperating with gastroenterologists. Whether patients' HRQoL differs between nurses' follow-up care (NF) and conventional follow-up care (CF) has not been widely researched and the aim of this study was to compare two different follow-up regimes with respect to patients' HRQoL.

Effects of fecal microbiota transplantation in subjects with irritable bowel syndrome are mirrored by changes in gut microbiome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the lower gastrointestinal tract. The pathophysiology is far from settled, but a gut microbial dysbiosis is hypothesized to be a contributing factor. We earlier published a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for IBS - the REFIT trial.

The effect of fecal microbiota transplantation on IBS related quality of life and fatigue in moderate to severe non-constipated irritable bowel: Secondary endpoints of a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is associated to impaired quality of life and fatigue. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) induces significant relief in gastro-intestinal related complaints. The objective was to evaluate the effect of FMT on the secondary endpoints: IBS-related quality of life and fatigue in patients with non-constipated IBS.

Faecal microbiota transplantation versus placebo for moderate-to-severe irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, single-centre trial.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, and poor quality of life. IBS might be caused by a gut dysbiosis. We aimed to compare faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) with placebo in patients with IBS.

The effect of referral templates on out-patient quality of care in a hospital setting: a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The assessment of quality of care is an integral part of modern medicine. The referral represents the handing over of care from the general practitioner to the specialist. This study aimed to assess whether an improved referral could lead to improved quality of care.

Microscopic colitis: a missed diagnosis among patients with moderate to severe irritable bowel syndrome.

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common condition in general practise, affecting 10-20% of the population in the Western world. The clinical picture of diarrhoea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) resembles other chronic diarrhoeic conditions, such as microscopic colitis (MC). It is impossible to separate these by clinical examinations or lab-tests that can be done in general practise.

Impact of referral templates on the quality of referrals from primary to secondary care: a cluster randomised trial.

Background: The referral letter is an important document facilitating the transfer of care from a general practitioner (GP) to secondary care. Hospital doctors have often criticised the quality and content of referral letters, and the effectiveness of improvement efforts remains uncertain.

Methods: A cluster randomised trial was conducted using referral templates for patients in four diagnostic groups: dyspepsia, suspected colorectal cancer, chest pain and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Managing dyspepsia in the young adult patient: effects of different tests for Helicobacter pylori in a "test-and-scope" approach.

Aim: To evaluate how different methods for the detection of Helicobacter pylori influence on a "test, score and scope" decision approach in young dyspeptic patients.

Results: Complete data from 341 patients (52.2% males) were analyzed.

Practical health co-operation - the impact of a referral template on quality of care and health care co-operation: study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: The referral letter plays a key role both in the communication between primary and secondary care, and in the quality of the health care process. Many studies have attempted to evaluate and improve the quality of these referral letters, but few have assessed the impact of their quality on the health care delivered to each patient.

Methods: A cluster randomized trial, with the general practitioner office as the unit of randomization, has been designed to evaluate the effect of a referral intervention on the quality of health care delivered.

Do young dyspeptic patients consider upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy useful?

Background/aims: Carefully planned strategies for selecting patients to upper gastro-intestinal (GI) endoscopy may reduce the number of procedures. However, the impact of the examination and the potential value of being reassured by a negative endoscopy has yet to be evaluated.

Methodology: 280 young dyspeptic patients were classified to have either peptic ulcer disease, non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD), gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) with or without erosive esophagitis after upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy.

"Test, score and scope": a selection strategy for safe reduction of upper gastrointestinal endoscopies in young dyspeptic patients referred from primary care.

Objective: To test the ability of pre-endoscopic clinical evaluation to predict clinically relevant findings of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Material And Methods: Patients (341) who had been referred to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for further evaluation of dyspeptic symptoms were included in this prospective, single-blinded study. Prior to endoscopy, the patients underwent a standardized clinical evaluation consisting of 1) a symptom questionnaire, 2) serological testing for Helicobacter pylori antibody and 3) determination of blood hemoglobin.