Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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The IBS Remote Health Pathway has been developed for people diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and referred to a Dietitian for dietary intervention to promote a holistic approach to the self-management of IBS related symptoms.

Benefits for patients and the Nutrition and Dietetic Service include:

  • Reducing the time between referral and the person receiving initial advice/support.
  • Reducing the number of dietetic outpatient visits for IBS patients.
  • Supporting the efficient and effective use of NHS resources.
  • Strengthening people's knowledge and skills to enable self management.
  • Improving patient and clinician experience.
  • Delivering care as close to home as possible.
  • Ensuring faster and easier access to appropriate clinicians when needed.
IBS 1st Line Service

We hope clinicians and patients find the Inhealthcare IBS 1st Line Service simple and easy to use, helping people better understand their condition and manage their symptoms.

Developed to support patients with a diagnosis of IBS, for the duration of the service (8 weeks) and for three months after the service has ended, patients can access 1st line dietary and lifestyle advice within the My Inhealthcare mobile app, to support them to self-manage their symptoms. 

The symptom evaluation questionnaires that patients complete at the start and end of the service are based on a KCL IBS-specific symptom questionnaire and ask the patient to rate their symptoms in the past week, describe their stool, and how often they pass a bowel motion. 

Halfway into the service (4 weeks), the patient completes a check-in with information about how they are feeling and if they have started making dietary and lifestyle changes. 

Throughout the service, the patient receives emails thanking them for their participation and reminding them that advice is available in the My Information section of the My Inhealthcare mobile app. 

Once the service ends after the final symptom evaluation is completed the patient can opt in for further dietetic support if needed or continue to access the My Information section for self-management for a further three months.  A PDF output report is generated, containing the patient’s answers to all three tasks. It will be available for dietitians to download within the Inhealthcare platform. Dietitians will use the information to add to the patient’s clinical notes to inform any additional support required.  

 

The IBS 1st Line Dietary Advice Service - How to use the Pathway is a step by step instruction guide for clinicians and administrative staff on using the Connect Me IBS 1st Line Service.


Although developed for patients, this resource is useful for clinicians supporting the use of the Connect Me IBS 1st Line Service.

 

The IBS 1st Line Dietary Advice Service using NHS Connect Me  guide helps practitioners understand how patients use the Connect Me IBS 1st Line Service.

IBS 2nd Line Service

We hope clinicians and patients find the Connect Me IBS 2nd Line Service on the Inhealthcare platform simple and easy to use, supporting patients who are following the Low FODMAP diet and helping them manage their symptoms.

During the referral process, the patient must complete an initial symptom questionnaire, with reference to their understanding of their symptoms in the previous 7 days. The patient is issued with an information leaflet and when the dietitian initiates the service, the patient receives an e-mail welcoming them to the service and providing guidance on how to set up the Inhealthcare app.

Upon accessing the app, the patient is directed to a microsite containing information and guidance to assist in the self-management of IBS and advice about the Low FODMAP diet. The patient is directed to complete a welcome task, which asks them how confident they are about starting the Low FODMAP diet.

During the period of enrolment on the service, the patient is able to request a call back with a dietitian for additional support at any point. 

One week after completing the welcome task, the patient is asked to complete a check in task to confirm whether they have started the Low FODMAP diet.  The clinician will receive an email confirming if the patient has started and what stage they are at, or if the patient has not started and does not plan to start.

When the patient has confirmed they have been following the Low FODMAP diet for at least 4 weeks, they are directed to complete a symptom questionnaire to monitor progress.

During week 7 of following the Low FODMAP diet, the patient is asked to complete the symptom questionnaire again to determine if adequate symptom control has been achieved, with the expectation that a follow up appointment with a dietitian will be arranged soon after.


The IBS 2nd Line Remote Health Pathway Onboarding Process guide helps practitioners to onboard patients to the Inhealthcare remote monitoring IBS 2nd Line Service.

Although developed for patients, this resource is useful for practitioners supporting the use of the Inhealthcare IBS 2nd Line Service:


The IBS 2nd Line Pathway - Supporting your Low FODMAP Journey guide explains the 3 steps to using the Inhealthcare IBS 2nd Line Service.

Find out more

Explore IBS patient guidance and resources

Contact the Connect Me team at nss.tec@nhs.scot 

Visit tec.scot