Gastrointestinal Group Education for Children and Adolescents with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders—A Feasibility Study of a Brief Intervention

Abstract

Functional abdominal pain disorders are common and disabling in children, but treatment options are limited. In a pilot study, we aimed to investigate if a brief group education program for pediatric patients with functional abdominal pain disorders and their parents is feasible and acceptable. Group education in adult irritable bowel syndrome has shown large treatment effects, but it has not been evaluated in children. The gastrointestinal (GI) group education, delivered in the clinic to 23 child–parent dyads, consisted of lectures by a pediatric gastroenterologist, a psychologist, and a dietician. Validated digital questionnaires were filled in by children and parents before and after the intervention. Most participants in the GI group education attended all sessions, and credibility in treatment was deemed high. Children’s self-reported knowledge of functional abdominal pain disorders increased, and improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms were reported at the end of this study. Our findings indicate that group education for children and adolescents with functional abdominal pain disorders, and their parents, is acceptable and feasible and may improve symptoms. A brief group education program may be of benefit in the management of pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders in several cases and when the family needs more knowledge than can be provided in primary care.