Objectives: The purpose of this study was to (a) determine the prevalence of IBS in nurses, (b) understand the impact of work productivity and quality of life on the nurses suffering from IBS.

Methods: A cross-sectional study approach was adopted, using a self-reported questionnaire which includes demography, IBS Rome II criteria, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS_QOL) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI). The study was completed voluntarily by 476 nurses from a regional hospital in Taiwan.

Results: 475 female nurses were recruited in this study. The prevalence of IBS, as defined by the Rome II criteria, was 15.4% of the subjects.The distribution of IBS subtype into constipation predominant, diarrhea predominant, and non-specific subtypes was 43.8, 35.6, and 20.5%, respectively. The mean age of the IBS and non-IBS groups were similar (29.87±5.1 vs. 30.38±5.1, p=0.44). Nurses with IBS had more frequent dysmenorrhea than those without IBS (p=0.027). The nursing work experience is equal between IBS and non-IBS nurse ( 7.59±4.60 vs.8.34±5.25 years, p=0.26). The WPAI score showed that IBS nurses were significantly higher than non-IBS nurses except absenteeism ( Absenteeism: 0.88±3.47 vs. 0.88±5.36, p=1.0; Presenteeism: 35.55±27.91 vs. 20.62±20.38, p<0.001; Overall work productive loss: 36.46±28.11 vs. 22.22±21.56, p<0.001; Daily activity impairment: 38.47±26.31 vs. 25.70±22.38, p<0.001). The IBS nurses had lower IBS_QOL score ( 78.20±17.5 vs. 91.71±11.61, p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study has provided information suggesting that IBS is common among Nurses in Taiwan. The prevalence of IBS of female nurses was 15.4%, which is similar to the West. IBS impaired nurses' working productivity and quality of life.