Síndrome de Intestino Irritable en personal de enfermería de un Hospital de Cuenca-Ecuador

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional-digestive disorder in health personnel, with significant repercussions on life quality, work, healthcare system and society. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of reported IBS and its subtypes in the nursing staffs' medical records of a public hospital, in Cuenca - Ecuador. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a randomized sample of nursing workers of Hospital Jose Carrasco Arteaga, Cuenca- Ecuador; between June 2017 and April 2018. According to Rome III criteria, medical records were assessed looking for IBS diagnosis and the subtype. Finally, sociodemographic, occupational and psychological factors among the nursing staff was also described. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fourteen medical records were evaluated (average age: 38.7 ± 10.4 years, 95.3% women). A diagnosis of IBS was found in 7.0% (15/214) of the personnel evaluated. The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined (46.7%, 7/15) and mixed (26.7%, 4/15). Twenty percent of the nursing staff with IBS, had mental disorders diagnosis (anxiety, depression and/or dysthymia), the same percent worked shifts. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of IBS reported in the nursing staff medical records, in Cuenca- Ecuador was lower than expected (7%). The most frequent IBS subtypes were undetermined subtype, followed by mixed subtype.