Defining Optimal Care for Functional Gut Disorders - Multi-Disciplinary Versus Standard Care: A Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Medicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are prevalent and commonly managed by isolated specialists.
• Evidence supports the use of dietitians, behavioral therapists, and psychotherapists, yet they are rarely integrated into care teams.
• There is a lack of research on optimal care models for FGIDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of comprehensive multidisciplinary outpatient care versus standard specialist care for FGIDs.
• To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of different models of care delivery for functional gut disorders.

Main Methods:

• The MANTRA study is a randomized controlled trial comparing multidisciplinary care with standard care.
• Patients with FGIDs (Rome IV criteria) were randomized 2:1 to either a comprehensive team or standard specialist care.
• Outcomes assessed included global improvement, symptoms, quality of life, psychological well-being, and healthcare costs up to 12 months post-treatment.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: improvement on a global assessment scale at end of treatment.
• Secondary outcomes: symptom reduction, enhanced quality of life, improved psychological well-being, and healthcare cost analysis.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary integrated care is hypothesized to be superior to standard specialist care for functional gut disorders.
• The MANTRA study aims to define the clinical and cost benefits of integrated care models for these prevalent conditions.