Evaluation of a real-world implemented web-based patient education tool for dyspeptic patients: a longitudinal survey study

Objective: To explore if a real-world web-based patient education tool has the potential to support self-management and informed decision making in patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: The study was performed in the Netherlands between July 2022 and October 2023. It consisted of two web-based questionnaires: the first was filled out directly after participants had finished the tool and the second three months thereafter. The validated PAGI-SYM (Patient Assessment of Gastrointestinal Disorders Symptom Severity Index) was translated to Dutch using the forward-backward method. Results: Ninety participants were included. Sixty percent of the participants felt (partly) reassured after finishing the tool and a minority changed their intentions of medical care seeking. The recommendations most frequently provided by the tool were dietary changes (83 %), reducing stress or anxiety (70 %) and increasing physical activity (62 %). For each advised lifestyle change, 50 %-77 % of participants stated they were (extremely) likely to try it. The self-reported success rate after three months varied from 38 % to 100 % (n = 59). Conclusion: Informing patients via the web-based patient education tool has the potential to reassure patients, and support lifestyle changes and informed decision-making regarding medical care seeking. Practice Implications: The education tool is publicly available, allowing many patients to benefit. Moreover, it is inexpensive and requires minimal maintenance. Therefore, implementing patient education in a real-world setting should be encouraged. Moreover, the translated PAGI-SYM can be used to assess the symptom severity of upper gastrointestinal disorders in Dutch-speaking populations.