Irritable Bowel Syndrome in 2026 Diagnosis, Investigation and Management for General Practice Dr Yanna Ko - General Practice Clinical Sessions Podcast
Podcast: Primary Care Masterclass PodcastPublished On: Sun Aug 09 2026
Description: Irritable Bowel Syndrome in 2026: Diagnosing & Managing with ConfidenceEpisode Summary: Are you still treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) as a diagnosis of exclusion?In this episode, host Michelle Odayan sits down with gastroenterologist and PhD researcher Dr. Yanna Ko to discuss a transformative paradigm shift in general practice: making a confident, positive diagnosis of IBS. Together, they unpack the brand-new Rome 5 diagnostic criteria, outline essential investigations, and map out a practical, evidence-based step-up management plan to help your patients reclaim their quality of life.Key Takeaways for Your Clinical Practice:The Rome 5 Update: Learn why abdominal discomfort has been reincluded in the diagnostic criteria after a decade, and how updated frequency thresholds restore diagnostic sensitivity.The Power of a "Positive Diagnosis": Discover why moving away from a "diagnosis of exclusion" model reduces patient anxiety and prevents costly over-investigation.Targeted Investigations: Master the core panel of baseline tests (FBC, CRP, iron studies, coeliac serology and faecal calprotectin) that rule out organic disease with high accuracy.Identifying Red Flags: Confidently spot critical alarm features, such as nocturnal symptoms, rectal bleeding, weight loss, or high-risk family history of bowel cancer, that warrant immediate colonoscopy referrals.A Step-Up Management Algorithm: Get a clear roadmap of therapies based on severity and subtype, ranging from soluble fiber and the low-FODMAP diet to antispasmodics, neuromodulators, and gut-directed hypnotherapy.What to Avoid: Understand why international guidelines strongly advise against commercial microbiome mapping and breath testing for food intolerances in routine clinical practice.About Our Guest:Dr. Yanna Ko is an accredited gastroenterologist and hepatologist practicing in Sydney. She is the recipient of the prestigious NHMRC scholarship for her research into bowel disorders and the gut microbiome and is currently completing her PhD on IBS.Continuing Professional Development (CPD): Australian general practitioners can obtain CPD points for listening to this episode from our education partner, My Health Academy.Myhealth Academy Link: https://lms-academy.myhealth.net.au/login/index.php?tenant=MHAC01 Enjoyed Today's Clinical Sessions Podcast?Your favourite conferences are now in podcast form too!Stay clinically up to date without travelling to conferences or sacrificing weekends with your family.You've just experienced how easy it is to learn through the Clinical Sessions Podcast. Now imagine having access to hundreds of conferences whenever and wherever you want.Listen while driving to work, walking the dog or exercising. Watch with slides while on your treadmill.Get the education you need without sacrificing the moments that matter.Turn your commute into a masterclass, your gym session into a symposium and cooking dinner into a GP update. Learn more https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts-------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a General Practitioner who gets invited to dozens of webinars a month. The General Practice Clinical Sessions Podcast is designed for you.Instead of giving up an evening with your family for a live webinar or your weekend for a conference, you can listen to it here whenever it's convenient, in half the time and while you are commuting, exercising or even walking the dog.It's the same education, without interrupting your life.GPs can also earn CPD hours.Earn Educational Activity (EA) CPD without sacrificing time with your family.Listen to your Clinical Sessions Podcasts on your commute or while you exercise. Then each week, calculate the amount of time you invest listening and count that as self claimed Educational Activities (EA).Earn Reviewing Performance (RP) CPD without sacrificing time with your family.After each podcast, pause for a few minutes and identify and summarise 3 key points relevant to your scope of practice.Identify the key clinical learnings that may be incorporated into the clinical assessment, work-up and/or management plan for appropriate patients.If relevant, would you change any of your management strategies for those patients identified by appropriate screening, examination and investigation.Invest 10 minutes per podcast mentally reviewing your practice. When you listen to 6 podcasts per week, you have earned an hour of Reviewing Performance CPD you can self claim.Remember to document your learning!Earn Measuring Outcomes (MO) CPD without sacrificing time with your family.To claim MO, you need:A baseline measurementA change in practiceA re-measurementReflection on the outcome1. Identify a measurable change. After the podcast, ask:“What will I do differently on Monday?”Example:Start using a screening toolChange prescribing habitsIncrease documentation of a risk factor2. Measure your baseline (quick audit). Do a small, realistic auditExamples:Review last 10 patients with condition X% who had guideline-based management% with documented counselling3. Implement the change. Apply the idea from the podcast for 2–4 weeksCould be as simple as a checklist, template, or reminder4. Re-measure. Repeat the same audit:Same sample sizeSame criteria5. Reflect & Document:What changed?Did outcomes improve?What will you keep doing?If you enjoy learning through podcasts and video podcasts then you can also access thousands of premium podcasts with PowerPoint Slides at https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcastsEnjoying the episode?⭐ Rate this episode➕ Follow the podcast💬 Share it with a colleague who’d value conference learning without the time awayDisclaimer: Content is for health professionals and general educational purposes only. It is not medical advice or a substitute for independent clinical judgement. Always consult current guidelines, product information and local protocols. Views expressed are those of the presenters and not necessarily ArmchairMedical. ArmchairMedical accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or harm resulting from reliance on the information provided.Visit https://www.armchairmedical.tv/podcasts for more information.
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