Table 3 Randomised participants by medicine group
Variable | Mebeverine | Methylcellulose | Placebo | Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 44 | N = 46 | N = 46 | ||
Age (years), mean (SD) | 45.44 (7.73) | 43.52 (12.22) | 44.24 (10.57) | F(2,132) = 0.385, p = 0.68 |
Length of symptoms(years) - mean (SD) | 11.20 (8.94) | 10.30 (9.05) | 10.91 (8.34) | KW, ap = 0.783 |
  Median (IQR) | 10.00 (11.00) | 8.50 (12.00) | 10.00 (11.00) |  |
IBS-SSS total score - mean (SD) | 270.02 (77.27) | 233.15 (89.19) | 224.35 (90.79) | F(2,132) = 3.483, p = 0.034* |
IBS-QOL score - mean (SD) | 59.58 (20.60) | 65.70 (18.64) | 66.51 (19.49) | F(2,132) = 1.65, p = 0.20 |
HADS score for anxiety- mean (SD) | 9.23 (4.02) | 9.57 (4.19) | 9.37 (3.30) | F(2,132) = 0.84, p = 0.92 |
HADS score for depression - mean (SD) | 5.76 (3.75) | 4.22 (4) | 4.93 (3.25) | KW, ap = 0.109 |
  Median (IQR) | 6.00 (6.00) | 3.00 (4.00) | 4.00 (6.00) |  |
Deprivation score, mean (SD) | 12.19 (8.57) | 11.38 (8.87) | 10.12 (7.52) | KW, ap = 0.499 |
  Median (IQR) | 10.06 (9.71) | 8.00 (9.56) | 8.25 (7.26) |  |
Gender - n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
  Male | 12 (40.0) | 9 (30.0) | 9 (30.0) | X2(2) = 1.18, p = 0.57 |
Female | 31 (29.5) | 37 (35.2) | 37 (35.2) | Â |
  Type of IBS - n (%) |  |  |  |  |
  Constipation | 5 (38.5) | 3 (23.1) | 5 (38.5) | X2(4) = 0.893, p = 0.932 |
  Diarrhoea | 13 (31.7) | 15 (36.6) | 13 (31.7) |  |
  Mixed | 25 (30.9) | 28 (34.6) | 28 (34.6) |  |
Severity IBSon IBS SSS n (%) |  |  |  | X2(4) = 11.48, p = 0.021* |
  Mild | 3 (10.0) | 11 (36.7) | 16 (53.3) |  |
  Moderate | 26 (35.1) | 27 (36.5) | 21 (28.4) |  |
  Severe | 14 (45.2) | 8 (25.8) | 9 (29.0) |  |
Education - n (%) | Â | Â | Â | Â |
  No formal | 4 (50) | 3 (37.5) | 1 (12.5) | X2(10) = 5.67, p = 0.85 |
  GSCE/O | 12 (34.3) | 9 (25.7) | 14 (40) |  |
  A level | 10 (29.4) | 12 (35.3) | 12 (35.3) |  |
  Degree | 8 (25.8) | 11 (35.5) | 12 (38.7) |  |
  Postgraduate | 6 (40.0) | 5 (33.3) | 4 (26.7) |  |
  Other | 3 (25.0) | 6 (50.0) | 3 (25) |  |