Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: Design and evaluation of an algorithm-based approach to triage, diagnosis and management.

The intervention employed is that of an algorithm-based approach to the triage, screening, diagnosis and evidence based management of functional gastrointestinal disorders. The algorithm includes the screening of suspected FGID patients with routine blood and stool tests, the provision of a diagnostic letter to the patient and GP which incorporates current evidence-based management options including the low FODMAP diet and psychological therapy. The intervention period is 6 weeks. In this 6 week period, patients will be screened via The Rome III Criteria (a validated survey to classify Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders), and undergo a panel of minimally invasive blood and stool tests. These results will be reviewed by a Gastroenterologist and a diagnosis made. Patients and their GPs will be informed of the diagnosis and recommended evidence based management options (via letter). Patients can freely choose to utililise as many or little of these recommendations as wanted. We will follow them up 6 weeks post intake to assess outcomes. Likewise, patients may continue or discontinue their chosen management options at any stage throughout this study. We are seeking to understand which options patients avail themselves on, the reasons behind these choices, and how successful the management options were for these patients.