• N A Koloski, N J Talley, S S Huskic, and P M Boyce.
• Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
• Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 2003 Mar 15; 17 (6): 841-51.

BackgroundThe drivers of conventional and, especially, alternative health care use for irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia are not clear.AimTo determine the predictors of conventional and alternative health care use for irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia.MethodsTwo hundred and seven subjects with irritable bowel syndrome or functional dyspepsia, identified from a previous population survey, were included in the study. Individuals with irritable bowel syndrome/functional dyspepsia were defined as consulters (n = 103) if they had visited their doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms more than once in the past year. Controls (n = 100) did not report having any abdominal pain. Subjects were given structured interviews to assess the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - version IV (DSM-IV) and International Classification of Disorders - version 10 (ICD-10) psychiatric diagnosis for anxiety, depression, somatization or any psychiatric diagnosis, aspects of health care use and symptom factors.ResultsAbout one-half (n = 103, 49.8%) of community subjects with irritable bowel syndrome/functional dyspepsia had sought conventional care for gastrointestinal symptoms in the past 12 months. Lifetime rates for alternative health care use for gastrointestinal symptoms were 20.8% (n = 43). Independent predictors of conventional health care use were more frequent abdominal pain, greater interference of gastrointestinal symptoms with work and activities and a greater satisfaction with the physician-patient relationship. Being female independently predicted alternative health care use.ConclusionsPsychological morbidity did not predict conventional or alternative health care use for gastrointestinal symptoms. Other factors were more important.

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