Edinburgh Napier University

  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders, classically involving symptoms of abdominal pain, distension and altered bowel function. However, the aetiology and natural history of this complex and often unpredictable condition remain poorly-understood. In the absence of a specific pathophysiological explanation, diagnosis and assessment of patients with IBS can be challenging for health professionals. In a recent article in Gastrointestinal Nursing, the current perspectives of diagnosis and symptom assessment of IBS were critically explored. In this follow-up paper, Dr Graeme D Smith examines the role of health related quality of life measures in the assessment of IBS. Approaches to measurement of quality of life will be identified and the clinical uses and potential pitfalls of these scales will be addressed for nurses working in clinical gastroenterology.