Functional gut disorders and health care seeking behavior in an Italian non-patient population
Gaburri, M.; Bassotti, G.; Bacci, G.; Cinti, A.; Bosso, R.; Ceccarelli, P.; Paolocci, N.; Pelli, M.A.; Morelli, A.
Recenti Progressi in Medicina 80(5): 241-244
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-1193 PMID: 2762661 Document Number: 342286
We conducted a survey on functional gut disorders and health care seeking behavior in a large non-patient population of an Italian region (Umbria). 533 subjects were interviewed by means of a specific questionnaire. 44 (8.5%) reported symptoms compatible with the irritable bowel syndrome, 30 (5.8%) had non-colonic pain, 48 (9.2%) chronic constipation, and 20 (3.8%) dyspepsia. It is concluded that in our region there is a relatively high percentage of subjects that do not commonly seek health care, although affected by functional gut disorders.