Norway’s first digital treatment for patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
The case has been published by Helse Bergen 01.12.23
Mage-tarmskolen, which is SFI’s partner in Forhelse, offers Norway’s first digital treatment for patients with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). Doctors in primary and specialist healthcare throughout Helse Vest refer patients to this treatment, and can now show good results. Over 90% of ISB patients are satisfied with the treatment and find the digital gastrointestinal school useful.
Forhelse SFI (Center for Research-Driven Innovation) in Health Bergen, has contributed to the development of the treatment offer. The digital platform has been developed by Forhelse SFI partners CheckWare AS and Section for e-Health.
There is no curative treatment for IBS, but through school the patients have learned various tools that reduce their ailments. IBS causes problems such as abdominal pain, constipation, bloated stomach and intestines, and diarrhea. The disease is often made worse by stress and certain foods. The condition is common and affects approximately 15 out of 100 in the population. – Many of these patients are worried to leave the house because of their ailments. Now they can sit at home and learn how to better cope with the disease, says Birgitte Berentsen Jacobsen, associate professor and general manager of the National Competence Service for Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases. (Nasjonal kompetansetjeneste for funksjonelle mage-tarmsykdommer).
Increased quality of life. More than 700 patients in Helse Bergen’s catchment area have undergone the treatment from 2020-2023. The average age of the participants is 38 years (77% women and 23% men).
The results show that three months after starting treatment, a total of 55% of the patients responded very well. The number of patients in the remission/mild IBS group increased from 11% to 44%, and the number of patients with severe IBS decreased from 42% to 8%. After 6 months, 21% of patients reported stable improvement of IBS symptoms.