Thank you for listening to this podcast, where Frontline Gastroenterology Trainee Editor Dr Philip Smith talks to Dr Alex Ford, associate professor and honorary consultant in gastroenterologist, at Leeds University and St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.

The podcast is an accompaniment to the Frontline Gastroenterology Twitter Debate (#FGDebate) held on Tuesday 13th January 2015, 8-9pm GMT, entitled, 'Frontline Neurogastroenterology: Evidence based therapeutics in irritable bowel syndrome’.

Prior to the debate Dr Ford said:

'Over the last 10 years I have been involved in clinical research into functional gastrointestinal disorders. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are highly prevalent, and possible aetiologies range from the benign to the life-threatening, but functional causes such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are commonest. This condition affects up to 10% to 20% of the general population, and if individuals seek medical advice for these symptoms this group of patients comprises up to one in ten of those referred from primary care to gastroenterology clinics. Diagnostic symptom-based criteria for IBS exist, and a positive diagnosis is encouraged but, despite this, many individuals undergo investigation to exclude serious underlying pathology, and other management costs are substantial due to consultations and prescribed drugs. Inevitably, excessive expenditure in one disease area, such as this, has implications for the provision of resources in other, equally important, areas of health care. Greater knowledge of the natural history of IBS, why individuals consult with symptoms, whether to perform investigations to exclude potential underlying organic diseases, and which treatments are effective is needed, in order that clinicians can direct scarce resources more efficiently. Our debate will hopefully touch on some of these issues'

The purpose of the podcast is to 'fill any gaps' the #FGDebate may have left. Dr Ford has also provided the slides he used in #FGDebate to help those interested understand the issues associated with therapeutics in IBS. We hope you enjoy this and that it is informative.

View the slides: http://goo.gl/dmvMzR