Smartphone App for Celiac Patients shows Promising Results in Managing Indigestion

Celiac disease (CD) is a digestive disorder that affects many people around the world. It is a condition where the body's immune system reacts to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. This reaction leads to damage to the small intestine and can result in symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and indigestion. To manage celiac disease, patients need to follow a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). However, it can be challenging to follow the GFD, especially for patients who are newly diagnosed. This is where the new Persian-language application developed for celiac patients comes in.

Clinical Trial

The clinical trial aimed to assess the effectiveness of a three-month educational intervention delivered via smartphone application compared with standard care on the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale score in patients with celiac disease. The study involved 60 patients with CD who were randomly assigned to either receive education through a smartphone application (Number of patients = 30) or conventional clinical education (Number of patients = 30).

The people who got help from the smartphone app were told to use it to learn about their illness for three months. The scientists checked how the patients were feeling by giving them a questionnaire called GSRS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale). They gave the questionnaire at the beginning of the study and again three months later. The questionnaire asked about things like stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion. They used the answers to calculate a score for each patient.

Results

Out of the 60 patients who were randomly selected to participate in the study, 58 patients completed it. The results showed that patients who used the smartphone application had a significant decrease in their indigestion symptoms compared to the traditional education group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of other gastrointestinal symptoms.

The study's conclusion indicates that using a smartphone application for providing information to patients with celiac disease had a significant positive effect on indigestion symptoms compared with routine clinical education. This study's results are promising, as they demonstrate that technology can play a vital role in helping patients manage their condition.

The development of the Persian-language application for celiac patients is a significant milestone. It provides celiac patients with an easy-to-use tool to manage their condition by providing them with information on what they can and cannot eat, tips on how to manage symptoms, and more. Patients can access this information whenever they need it, making it convenient for them to follow the Gluten-Free Diet.

Conclusion

The development of the Persian-language application for celiac patients is a significant achievement. The application provides a convenient and accessible way for patients to manage their condition and learn about the GFD. The study's results demonstrate that using a smartphone application to educate patients can be effective in managing symptoms associated with celiac disease. This study highlights the importance of using technology to help patients manage chronic conditions such as celiac disease.

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