Analyzing the Content of Outcome Measures in Clinical Trials on Irritable Bowel Syndrome Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as a Reference

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Patienten mit Reizdarmsyndrom (RDS) berichten über eine erhebliche Beeinträchtigung ihrer funktionalen Gesundheit durch die Darmsymptomatik. Dagegen scheinen im Outcome-Assessment klinischer Studien zum RDS funktionale Aspekte mit Ausnahme der Erhebung gastrointestinaler Symptome unterrepräsentiert zu sein. Ziel: Ziel der Studie war es deshalb, inhaltliche Aspekte des Outcome-Assessments klinischer Studien zum RDS zu analysieren. Methodik: Dazu wurde eine systematische Literaturanalyse in Form einer quantitativen Inhaltsanalyse durchgeführt. Als Kodiersystem wurde die Internationale Klassifikation der Funktionsfähigkeit, Behinderung und Gesundheit (ICF) verwendet. Die Selektion der Outcome-Instrumente erfolgte auf der Basis aller klinischen randomisierten kontrollierten Studien zum RDS, die in PubMed seit Beginn der Registrierung bis April 2002 veröffentlicht wurden. Aus den Outcome-Instrumenten wurden definierte Textstellen, so genannte Kodiereinheiten, ausgewählt, die dann mittels der ICF verschlüsselt wurden. Eine Kodiereinheit musste eine Einzelinformation im Sinne eines funktionalen Gesundheitsaspektes beschreiben. Bei Verwendung von Tests als Outcome-Instrumente wurden die Ziele der Tests semantisch impliziert. Nur 2-stufige ICF-Kategorien, die im Outcome-Assessment von mindestens 10 % der Studien vorkamen, wurden berücksichtigt. Alle Review-Schritte wurden von drei unabhängigen Ratern durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: 99 Studien wurden eingeschlossen. In 88 Studien wurden Einzelitems, in 42 Studien klinische oder paraklinische Tests, in 24 Studien Fragebogen als Outcome-Instrumente verwendet. 90 % der selektierten Kodiereinheiten (n = 2271) konnten der ICF zugewiesen werden. ICF-Kategorien, die gastrointestinale Symptome beschreiben, wurden in Abhängigkeit ihres spezifischen Informationsgehaltes im Outcome-Assessment von 37 bis 85 Studien berücksichtigt, im Vergleich zu extragastrointestinalen Symptomen in 10 bis 22 Studien. Über die ICF-Komponente „Körperfunktionen” hinausgehende Inhalte wurden kaum erhoben. Klare säkulare Trends für einzelne ICF-Kategorien konnten nicht beobachtet werden. Nur ein RDS-spezifischer Fragebogen betrachtete über die gastrointestinale Symptomatik hinausgehende Gesundheitsaspekte. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Die inhaltliche Ausrichtung des Outcome-Assessments klinischer Studien zum RDS basiert hauptsächlich auf der Erhebung gastrointestinaler Symptome. In zukünftigen Studien sollten andere Gesundheitsaspekte des RDS wie begleitende psychologische Symptome oder soziale Auswirkungen der Gesundheitsstörung stärkere Berücksichtigung finden.

Abstract

Background: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) report a significant impact of their symptoms on functional health. In outcome assessment of clinical studies on IBS, however, functional aspects other than gastrointestinal symptoms seem to be disregarded to a great extent. Aim: To analyze the content of outcome measures used in clinical IBS trials. Methods: A systematic review was performed in terms of a quantitative content analysis using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a coding scheme. Outcome measures were selected from all randomized controlled trials on IBS published in PubMed from the beginning to April 2002. From the outcome measures pre-specified text passages, so-called coding units, were extracted and linked to the ICF. A coding unit had to describe a single health aspect or an internal or external factor with an impact on health. If the outcome measure was a test the goal of the test was semantically implicated. Only second-level ICF categories contained in the outcome assessment of at least 10 % of the studies were considered. All steps of the review were performed by three independent raters. Results: 99 studies were included. Single items were used as outcome measures in 88, clinical and paraclinical tests in 42 and questionnaires in 24 studies. Ninety percent of the coding units (n = 2271) could be linked to the ICF. ICF categories describing gastrointestinal symptoms were considered in the outcome assessment of 37 to 85 studies depending on the type of content compared to extra-gastrointestinal symptoms in 10 to 22 studies. Health information of ICF components other than “body functions” was scarcely included. Clear secular trends for individual ICF categories could not be found. Only a single IBS-specific questionnaire considered health information other than gastrointestinal symptoms. Discussion and conclusion: Outcome assessment of clinical IBS studies is mainly based on gastrointestinal symptoms. The assessment of other health aspects like comorbid psychological symptoms or social consequences of the disease seems to be similarly important and should be considered in future trials. This would also facilitate the understanding of IBS as a biopsychosocial health condition, both in matters of aetiology and consequences.

Reizdarmsyndrom - Outcome-Assessment - systematischer Review - Inhaltsanalyse - ICF

Irritable bowel syndrome - outcome assessment - systematic review - content analysis - ICF

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