Title: The Effect of Benson Relaxation Technique on the Severity of Symptoms and Quality of
Life in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Quasi-experimental Study
Version: 3 Date: 24 Aug 2022
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS:
- Interesting study done with randomization and with good analysis of the results. This is an
interesting topic, not only for children but potentially also for adults, considering the increasing
incidence of IBS worldwide.
- The authors divided the patients in two groups in order to assess any effect related to
the relaxation technique, and showed significant positive results for those allocated to the
experimental arm.
- They did a sample size analysis before the recruitment, and the statistical analysis looks
appropriate.
- However, it is not clear to me why the first half of the ""Discussion"" is about gender-related
symptoms (the authors called it demographic variables). This was not mentioned in the aim of
the study, and the statistical analysis was not performed accordingly.
- Minor revision: in the abstract is reported that the number of patients was sixteen (16) and
not sixty (60)
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
The authors should change the first part of the ""Discussion"", or otherwise they should show
a better analysis for gender-related differences.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:
- as stated before regarding ""Discussion"".
- minor revision for the patients' number in the abstract."
Title: The Effect of Benson Relaxation Technique on the Severity of Symptoms and Quality of
Life in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Quasi-experimental Study
Version: 3 Date: 24 Aug 2022
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS:
- Interesting study done with randomization and with good analysis of the results. This is an
interesting topic, not only for children but potentially also for adults, considering the increasing
incidence of IBS worldwide.
- The authors divided the patients in two groups in order to assess any effect related to
the relaxation technique, and showed significant positive results for those allocated to the
experimental arm.
- They did a sample size analysis before the recruitment, and the statistical analysis looks
appropriate.
- However, it is not clear to me why the first half of the ""Discussion"" is about gender-related
symptoms (the authors called it demographic variables). This was not mentioned in the aim of
the study, and the statistical analysis was not performed accordingly.
- Minor revision: in the abstract is reported that the number of patients was sixteen (16) and
not sixty (60)
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
The authors should change the first part of the ""Discussion"", or otherwise they should show
a better analysis for gender-related differences.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:
- as stated before regarding ""Discussion"".
- minor revision for the patients' number in the abstract."
Please review this paper.
user
Title: The Effect of Benson Relaxation Technique on the Severity of Symptoms and Quality of
Life in Children with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): A Quasi-experimental Study
Version: 3 Date: 24 Aug 2022
Reviewer's report:
"PEER REVIEWER ASSESSMENTS:
OBJECTIVE - Full research articles: is there a clear objective that addresses a testable research
question(s) (brief or other article types: is there a clear objective)?
Yes - there is a clear objective
DESIGN - Is the current approach (including controls and analysis protocols) appropriate for
the objective?
Yes - the approach is appropriate
EXECUTION - Are the experiments and analyses performed with technical rigor to allow
confidence in the results?
Yes - experiments and analyses were performed appropriately
STATISTICS - Is the use of statistics in the manuscript appropriate?
Yes - appropriate statistical analyses have been used in the study
INTERPRETATION - Is the current interpretation/discussion of the results reasonable and not
overstated?
No - there are minor issues
OVERALL MANUSCRIPT POTENTIAL - Is the current version of this work technically
sound? If not, can revisions be made to make the work technically sound?
Probably - with minor revisions
PEER REVIEWER COMMENTS:
GENERAL COMMENTS:
- Interesting study done with randomization and with good analysis of the results. This is an
interesting topic, not only for children but potentially also for adults, considering the increasing
incidence of IBS worldwide.
- The authors divided the patients in two groups in order to assess any effect related to
the relaxation technique, and showed significant positive results for those allocated to the
experimental arm.
- They did a sample size analysis before the recruitment, and the statistical analysis looks
appropriate.
- However, it is not clear to me why the first half of the ""Discussion"" is about gender-related
symptoms (the authors called it demographic variables). This was not mentioned in the aim of
the study, and the statistical analysis was not performed accordingly.
- Minor revision: in the abstract is reported that the number of patients was sixteen (16) and
not sixty (60)
REQUESTED REVISIONS:
The authors should change the first part of the ""Discussion"", or otherwise they should show
a better analysis for gender-related differences.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS:
- as stated before regarding ""Discussion"".
- minor revision for the patients' number in the abstract."
assistant