Healthcare seeking behavior among subjects with irritable bowel syndrome

The behaviors exhibited by individuals who seek healthcare for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are numerous, varied, and sometimes controversial, and/or inconsistent. This study aims to review the factors associated with these healthcare seeking behaviors. Through a selective review of the literature, articles were identified by using the following search terms: IBS, healthcare seeking, conventional and non-conventional treatment, cultural factors, and gender differences. The roles of different factors associated with healthcare seeking are discussed.