Questionnaire on Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Symptom Management Among Endurance Athletes Is Valid and Reliable

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences 2018-12, Vol.63 (12), p.3281-3289
• Main Authors: Killian, Lauren A., Chapman-Novakofski, Karen M., Lee, Soo-Yeun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Athletes; Athletes - statistics & numerical data; Biochemistry; Diagnosis; Endurance Training - adverse effects; Endurance Training - classification; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal Tract - physiopathology; Hepatology; Humans; Irritable bowel syndrome; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - diagnosis; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - epidemiology; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - physiopathology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oncology; Original Article; Patient Care Management - methods; Questionnaires; Reproducibility of Results; Running - physiology; Sports Medicine - methods; Strategic planning (Business); Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Symptom Assessment - methods; Symptom management; Transplant Surgery; Triathlon; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1007/s10620-018-5289-8

Background Gastrointestinal symptoms are reported in a large proportion of endurance athletes, with similarities in symptom type and distribution to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aims The objective of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess IBS diagnoses or fit to IBS diagnostic criteria in this population along with nutritional habits, gastrointestinal symptoms, and symptom management strategies. Methods A 93-item Endurance Athlete Questionnaire was developed to address the objective, targeted at American endurance athletes completing a marathon, ultra-marathon, half-distance triathlon, and/or full-distance triathlon that year. Content validity was established by expert reviewers ( n  = 6), and face validity was evaluated by endurance athletes ( n  = 9). Test–retest reliability was assessed by target athletes ( n  = 51). Participants completed two rounds of the questionnaire, separated by 1–2 weeks. Results were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman correlations and paired comparisons. Results Slight modifications in wording and three demographic questions were added based on the input of expert and athlete reviews. Pearson correlation coefficient of test–retest total questionnaire scores was significant at 0.839 ( P