Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal

Background and Objectives: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. It is characterized by lower abdominal pain, changes in bowel habitsand mood disorders such as anxiety. Behavioral treatmentscan reduce anxiety in the patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the problem solving training on anxiety in patients with the IBS.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 46 patients with the IBS. The participants were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. Intervention group received one training session on problem-solving skills per week for eight weeks, in addition to the routine medication therapy and The control group was routine measures. Data were gathered using the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and were analyzed using the Chi-squared test and t-test in the SPSS-19.

Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups on the mean anxiety at baseline (p>0.05). State anxiety was decreased after the problem solving training among the intervention group (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean trait anxietyaftyer the intervention.

Conclusion Problem solving training was effective in reducing state anxiety among patients with the IBS.