Success for the DOCTOR’s major IBS test – 60,000 examined

Today on IBS Day, DOKTORN sums up the large national IBS campaign that took place during the month of December last year. Statistics from the campaign show, among other things, that many go untreated, something that experts believe indicates that healthcare needs to increase knowledge about IBS in particular.

The campaign included editorial articles on the Nordic region’s leading medicine and health site www.doktorn.com and banner campaigns on the site as well as in the media group Schibsted’s media such as Aftonbladet, Svenska Dagbladet and Blocket and more.

– The interest in the campaign has been great and it only confirms that gastrointestinal problems are a big problem for many Swedes. This campaign is one of several where we highlight individual disease areas and highlight these a little extra to increase knowledge but also see how the Swedes actually feel, says Anders Åker, editor-in-chief of DOKTORN.

Statistics from the campaign period show that as many as 60,000 have been examined via the test developed in consultation with leading IBS experts.

– We have received answers from both women but also many men. In general, we see that the majority of those who search for health information and not infrequently stomach problems are women, so that many men who have taken the test are a little surprising.

Many who have taken the test state that they have changed their diet (25 percent) to get rid of their stomach problems, while some have tried probiotics (14 percent) and other prescription drugs (7.5 percent).

– Unfortunately, the statistics also show that 35 percent state that they have not tested anything at all to get rid of their problems, which is unfortunate as there are treatments for many stomach problems. We also know that stomach problems affect both mentally and socially in everyday life.

At the point if you have done something about your problems, it differs between men and women where 41 percent of men state that they have not done anything about the problems. The same figure for women is 31 percent. Within the medical profession, knowledge about IBS is relatively low and many patients testify that they have not received information or the right help. Dietitians have the knowledge at the same time as there are too few dietitians to be able to take care of all patients.

– We see the need to increase knowledge about IBS is great, both in healthcare and in society, says Sofia Antonsson, dietitian and founder of Belly Balance.

Sofia Antonsson is a certified dietitian and one of the country’s leading IBS experts. Together with Jeanette Steijer, she started Belly Balance in 2016 and this year, IBS is paying attention to the initiative IBS Day, which therefore falls today, 16 January.

– We have worked for many years to train dietitians and now it is also time to reach out to doctors, who are often the first to see patients with IBS. The fact that so many have not done anything at all to reduce their problems indicates that there is a lack of information on what can be done about the problems, says Sofia Antonsson.

With two large and successful national campaigns in the bag, the Migraine test and the IBS test, in 2020 the DOCTOR will take a closer look at additional areas that need to be highlighted a little extra.

– We see that this is an effective way to reach out to the public and at the same time put diagnoses on the map, which is gratifying and something we will definitely continue with, Anders Åker concludes.

At www.doktorn.com/ibstestet, you who are interested can take the IBS test.

Facts IBS

Stress stomach, balloon stomach, milk stomach – IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disease which means that you can not find any defects in the stomach or intestines, they just do not work properly as they should. About 15-20 percent of the world’s population has IBS and the majority of those seeking care for IBS are women aged 20-65. Among men, the number of men is large, partly due to the fact that the proportion of men seeking care is smaller. Among children and young people, the number who are diagnosed with IBS is increasing. It has long been known that psychological factors are important in IBS and that anxiety and stress can aggravate the disease. Research on IBS is ongoing, both in terms of cause and treatment. Previously, concrete dietary advice was lacking in health care, which resulted in general advice such as adjusting the amount of fiber, removing lactose or, in the worst case, no advice at all. Today, the evidence-based diet treatment FODMAP is used in healthcare. With it, over 75 percent of everyone with IBS has reduced symptoms and increased quality of life.

Source: Belly Balance

For more information:
Anders Åker, editor-in-chief DOCTOR
[email protected] , 0703-64 84 22