Impact of an active patient education program on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with celiac disease following a gluten-free diet: a randomized controlled trial

Gastroenterol Nurs. 2012 May-Jun;35(3):200-6. doi: 10.1097/SGA.0b013e318255fe3a.

Abstract

Despite living with a gluten-free diet, Swedish women with celiac disease report a higher rate of gastrointestinal symptoms than women without the disease. This study was designed to assess the impact of active patient education on gastrointestinal symptoms in women with a gluten-free diet. A total of 106 Swedish women, aged 20 years or older, with celiac disease on a gluten-free diet for a minimum of 5 years took part in a randomized controlled trial. The intervention group (n = 54) underwent a 10-session educational program, "Celiac School," based on problem-based learning. Controls (n = 52) were sent information regarding celiac disease at home. The outcome measure was gastrointestinal symptoms at 10 weeks and 6 months after intervention, assessed with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale. After 10 weeks of "Celiac School," the participating women reported significant improvements that remained 6 months later (p = .029). The controls did not improve significantly. A comparison of the development of scores, from baseline to 10 weeks, could not demonstrate a significant difference in the overall index between the 2 groups but showed a significant improvement concerning 1 of its components, namely the index reflecting Abdominal Pain (p = .007). Intervention methods should be refined to reach an even more pronounced effect.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Abdominal Pain / physiopathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Celiac Disease / complications
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy*
  • Constipation / etiology
  • Constipation / physiopathology
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Diarrhea / physiopathology
  • Diet, Gluten-Free*
  • Female
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / etiology
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux / physiopathology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / etiology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Education as Topic / organization & administration*
  • Problem-Based Learning
  • Program Evaluation
  • Quality of Life
  • Reference Values
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sweden
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult