Title: Quality of life, functional impairment and healthcare experiences of patients with irritable
bowel syndrome in Norway: An online survey
Version: 4 Date: 20 Aug 2024
Reviewer:  Ewa Ma#ecka-Panas
Reviewer's report:
This is the very comprehensive report with the rarely large number of patients evaluated.The
study aim was to  determine the impact of IBS on the quality of life, functional impairment and
healthcare experiences of patients in Norway.The problem is widely known, but surprisingly
not that widely addressed.Some parts of the data provided are widely known, as  low  HRDL,
delay in medical help seeking, however economic burden of IBS was more rarely studied.My
main problem here is the IBS diagnosic criteria and the medical data of the studied group. The
statement that the patients  were diagned by medical doctor in not informative enough.It should
be specified, if this were general practicioners or gastroenterologists or other specialist.Did they
use Rome IV IBS diagnosis criteria or other diagnostics? Were there associated diseases, which
could alter the results? The Rome IV criteria are mentioned in the discussion, but this is not clear
that that was the main diagnostic criteria, which should be stated in the material section.The
statement that IBS patients are not satisfied with the medical treatment is very familiar to all
gastroenterologists, since it takes time to gain the indispensable patients confidence on one
hand , but on the other hand the MD's time is scarce everywhere.Therefore, the authors should
underline, which obtained data represent the true novelty
Title: Quality of life, functional impairment and healthcare experiences of patients with irritable
bowel syndrome in Norway: An online survey
Version: 4 Date: 20 Aug 2024
Reviewer:  Ewa Ma#ecka-Panas
Reviewer's report:
This is the very comprehensive report with the rarely large number of patients evaluated.The
study aim was to  determine the impact of IBS on the quality of life, functional impairment and
healthcare experiences of patients in Norway.The problem is widely known, but surprisingly
not that widely addressed.Some parts of the data provided are widely known, as  low  HRDL,
delay in medical help seeking, however economic burden of IBS was more rarely studied.My
main problem here is the IBS diagnosic criteria and the medical data of the studied group. The
statement that the patients  were diagned by medical doctor in not informative enough.It should
be specified, if this were general practicioners or gastroenterologists or other specialist.Did they
use Rome IV IBS diagnosis criteria or other diagnostics? Were there associated diseases, which
could alter the results? The Rome IV criteria are mentioned in the discussion, but this is not clear
that that was the main diagnostic criteria, which should be stated in the material section.The
statement that IBS patients are not satisfied with the medical treatment is very familiar to all
gastroenterologists, since it takes time to gain the indispensable patients confidence on one
hand , but on the other hand the MD's time is scarce everywhere.Therefore, the authors should
underline, which obtained data represent the true novelty
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Quality of life, functional impairment and healthcare experiences of patients with irritable
bowel syndrome in Norway: An online survey
Version: 4 Date: 20 Aug 2024
Reviewer:  Ewa Ma#ecka-Panas
Reviewer's report:
This is the very comprehensive report with the rarely large number of patients evaluated.The
study aim was to  determine the impact of IBS on the quality of life, functional impairment and
healthcare experiences of patients in Norway.The problem is widely known, but surprisingly
not that widely addressed.Some parts of the data provided are widely known, as  low  HRDL,
delay in medical help seeking, however economic burden of IBS was more rarely studied.My
main problem here is the IBS diagnosic criteria and the medical data of the studied group. The
statement that the patients  were diagned by medical doctor in not informative enough.It should
be specified, if this were general practicioners or gastroenterologists or other specialist.Did they
use Rome IV IBS diagnosis criteria or other diagnostics? Were there associated diseases, which
could alter the results? The Rome IV criteria are mentioned in the discussion, but this is not clear
that that was the main diagnostic criteria, which should be stated in the material section.The
statement that IBS patients are not satisfied with the medical treatment is very familiar to all
gastroenterologists, since it takes time to gain the indispensable patients confidence on one
hand , but on the other hand the MD's time is scarce everywhere.Therefore, the authors should
underline, which obtained data represent the true novelty
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