The effectiveness of homework tasks in an irritable bowel syndrome self-management programme

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of engagement with homework tasks in a brief, self-help CBT based intervention for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Thirty one IBS participants who were randomised to receive the self management programme participated in this part of the study. Participants completed a seven week self-management programme which consisted of a detailed self-help manual that included weekly structured homework tasks, an initial face-to-face session with a CBT therapist, and two hour-long telephone sessions at three and five weeks into the programme. In order to assess improvement across the trial, patients completed questionnaires at baseline, post treatment and three months follow-up measuring the severity of their IBS symptoms and their level of symptom relief. Homework sheets were returned at the end of therapy and rated by two independent raters for quantity and quality of homework completed. There were no significant differences between improvers and non-improvers at the end of treatment in either the quality or quantity of homework completed. However, at three months post treatment people who had symptom improvement had completed significantly more homework during their treatment and the quality of this homework was greater than people who had not improved. Encouraging patients to engage in self-help activities may increase the efficacy of this form of therapy.

More information

Identifiers

Catalogue record

Export record