Tailored Digital Healthy Lifestyle of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effect on Pain and Related Symptoms

Khalil, Shaymaa Sayed; Ahmed, Fatma Gareh; Ismael, Mervat Abd EL-  Fatah

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2025.450339

Tailored Digital Healthy Lifestyle of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Effect on Pain and Related Symptoms

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant professor of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

² 3Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/tsnj.2025.450339

Abstract

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common chronic
gastrointestinal illness that severely lowers a patient's quality of life. New
research shows that lifestyle treatments can be beneficial, especially when they
are tailored to each person's needs and provided online. Aim: To assess how a
tailored digital healthy lifestyle affects pain and related symptoms in IBS
patients. Design: A pretest-posttest research design. Subjects and Method: a
purposive 60 patients diagnosed with IBS who admitted at the Tropical
Medicine and Gastroenterology outpatient clinic, El Rajhi Liver Hospital,
Assiut University. Tools: Using two tools: (I) a patient health needs assessment
questionnaire to gather demographic characteristics and medical data and (II)
the IBS Severity Scoring System (IBS-SSS). Results: (IBS) was more prevalent
among young adult females with most participants having moderate illness
duration (1–3 years), relatively high education levels, and urban residence. Post
intervention findings revealed significant improvement in IBS-related pain and
symptom severity as measured by the IBS-SSS. The older age, urban residence,
and the presence of comorbidities significantly predicted higher IBS symptom
severity, whereas higher educational attainment was associated with lower
symptom scores. Conclusion: The tailored digital healthy lifestyle intervention
was effective in reducing pain and related symptoms among IBS patients.
Recommendation: Healthcare providers should be encouraged to integrate such
digital tools into routine care to empower patients and enhance symptom
control.