Novel management of symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

Organic disease masquerading as irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized controlled trial in primary care: the Lincolnshire POACHER study (Promoting Optimal Assessment to Change Health and Engineer an Economic Revolution)

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN87945798

Enrollment

134

Registered

2020-07-14

Start date

2020-09-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2026-08-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Irritable bowel syndrome Digestive System Irritable bowel syndrome

Interventions

Randomisation will be performed independently by the Hull Health Trials Unit: Arm 1: Controls: standard GP treatment following NICE guidance for the treatment of IBS-like symptoms. Arm 2: Interventi

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Patients presenting to the GP with IBS-like symptoms characterised by intermittent or constant loose stool

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, fever, anaemia, palpable mass or sudden unexplained onset of symptoms 2. Previous referral for chronic GI symptoms to a gastroenterologist or GI surgeon 3. Previous cholecystectomy 4. Previous gastrointestinal surgery of any type except appendicectomy, abdominal wall or femoral hernia repair or diagnostic laparoscopy without surgical intervention 5. Past history of inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, chronic liver or pancreatic disease 6. Past history of cancer (except basal cell carcinoma) 7. Consultation with any health professional in the last 5 years for abnormal GI symptoms 8. Previous investigations in secondary care for IBS-like symptoms

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
IBS symptoms measured using the IBSSSS questionnaire at 1 year	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Economic evaluation of healthcare and patient costs at 1 year: 1.1. NHS costs calculated from electronic patient records for the year that the patient is included in the study 1.2. Patient costs related to their IBS-like issues calculated with a monthly economic evaluation filled in by the patient for the year they are in the study 1.3. QALYs assessed using EQ5DL at 1 year 2. Quality of life measured using Modified GSRS, IBSSSS, SF12, EQ5D3l at 1 year 3. Time to symptom improvement measured using patient records at 1 year 4. Conditions diagnosed measured using patient records at any time from randomisation to end of 1-year follow-up	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Economic evaluation of healthcare and patient costs at 1 year: 1.1. NHS costs calculated from electronic patient records for the year that the patient is included in the study 1.2. Patient costs related to their IBS-like issues calculated with a monthly economic evaluation filled in by the patient for the year they are in the study 1.3. QALYs assessed using EQ5DL at 1 year 2. Quality of life measured using Modified GSRS, IBSSSS, SF12, EQ5D3l at 1 year 3. Time to symptom improvement measured using patient records at 1 year 4. Conditions diagnosed measured using patient records at any time from randomisation to end of 1-year follow-up

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactJervoise Andreyev

jervoise.andreyev@nhs.net+44 (0)1522 707473

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Aug 25, 2026