Effect of Counseling Program on Coping Strategies of Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common functional gastrointestinal disordercharacterized by a constellation of symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowelhabits. Coping strategies are the behavioral and cognitive techniques used to deal with the demands andessential needs to patients for preserving wellbeing of health. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate theeffect of counseling program on coping strategies of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. ResearchDesign: A quasi-experimental research design was used. Setting: The study was conducted at medicineout-patients clinic in Helwan General Hospital Cairo, Egypt. Sample: A purposive sample included 80patients with irritable bowel syndrome were used in this study. Tools: Two tools were used in this study:Tool I: An interview questionnaire which consisted of: Part I: a) Demographic characteristics of studiedpatients b) Past and present medical history of studied patients. Part II: Patients’ knowledge aboutirritable bowel syndrome. Part III: Patients’ attitude about irritable bowel syndrome. Tool II: Patients'coping strategies. Results: The present study showed that 68.7% of studied patients had poor knowledge,58.2% of them had a negative attitude and 70% of them had a low coping strategies about irritable bowelsyndrome at pre counseling program, which improved to 82.0% of them had good knowledge, 85% ofthem had positive attitude and 80.5% of them had good coping strategies at post counseling program.Conclusion: The counseling program improved the studied patients' knowledge, positive attitude andattitude about irritable bowel syndrome. Recommendation: Continues counseling program about copingstrategies of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.