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- Title
Biofeedback interventions for gastrointestinal conditions: a systematic review.
- Authors
Coulter ID; Favreau JT; Hardy ML; Morton SC; Roth EA; Shekelle P; Coulter, Ian D; Favreau, Joya T; Hardy, Mary L; Morton, Sally C; Roth, Elizabeth A; Shekelle, Paul
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>To review evidence for the efficacy of biofeedback in the treatment of gastrointestinal problems.<bold>Data Sources: </bold>Studies were identified through a search of MEDLINE, HealthSTAR, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine, MANTIS, PsycINFO, Social Science Citation Index, Science Citation Index, and CINAHL.<bold>Study Selection: </bold>Studies were selected if they used biofeedback as the intervention, addressed the treatment of a gastrointestinal condition, and included a control group.<bold>Data Extraction: </bold>All titles (4397), articles, and/or abstracts (1362) were evaluated by 2 independent reviewers who extracted data on study design and quality, sample size, type of intervention, and outcomes.<bold>Data Synthesis: </bold>We found 16 controlled trials of biofeedback for gastrointestinal problems. Ten studies had a comparison group that did not receive biofeedback (5 studies on constipation and/or encopresis, 3 on fecal incontinence, 1 on constipation, and 1 on abdominal pain). Of the 10 studies that had a "no biofeedback" control arm, 7 provided sufficient data to calculate an effect size. Of these 7 studies, 2 favored biofeedback: 1 study revealed a reduction in fecal incontinence among adults, and the other study showed an improvement in constipation with fecal incontinence (encopresis) among children. The other 5 had nonsignificant results. Three studies had a "no biofeedback" comparison arm but insufficient data to calculate an effect size. One of these studies in adult fecal incontinence reported statistically significant improvement.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The evidence is insufficient to support the efficacy of biofeedback for these gastrointestinal conditions.
- Publication
Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine, 2002, Vol 8, Issue 3, p76
- ISSN
1078-6791
- Publication type
journal article