Education delivery for the low FODMAP diet

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A feasibility study on different health education delivery methods for a low fermentable carbohydrate (FODMAP) diet in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in primary care.

• IRAS ID

  206464

• Contact name

  Miranda Lomer

• Contact email

  miranda.lomer@kcl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  King's College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS is a chronic bothersome disorder of the bowel that affects approximately 12% of the UK population. It is characterised by the presence of the abdominal pain which may be relieved by defaecation. There is evidence that the use of a diet low in short chain fermentable carbohydrates (low FODMAP diet) may relieve symptoms in patients with IBS. This is because these carbohydrates result in fermentation and fluid changes in the gut and can trigger symptoms. However, the provision of advice on the low FODMAP diet in primary care can be challenging due to limited resources and the need for a trained dietitian.
  This feasibility study aims to provide the necessary data in order to develop a future larger trial that will compare the clinical and cost effectiveness of different methods of education of the low FODMAP diet in patients with IBS in a primary care setting. Particularly, this feasibility study will allow researchers to resolve key uncertainties in its planning, such as recruitment and retention rates of patients with IBS in primary care, as well as assess the acceptability of the different types of the low FODMAP diet education. Patients with IBS will be recruited from primary care practices and will be randomised to receive information on the low FODMAP diet either through a leaflet, a mobile application (app) or a one-to-one consultation with a dietitian. This will potentially allow to development of written information or mobile application that would be provided to IBS patients in primary care, without the involvement of a dietitian, resulting in a more cost-effective pathway.

• REC name

  London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/LO/1753

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Oct 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion