Researchers created a new computer-based system to help doctors decide which patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) need which type of diet help. Instead of waiting on hold for a phone call, patients filled out a digital form. The results were impressive: waiting times dropped from almost 2 months to just 2.5 weeks, doctors spent less time reviewing forms, and the clinic could see three times more patients. However, both patients and doctors had mixed feelings about using artificial intelligence in healthcare, wanting more proof that it actually works before fully trusting it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a new computer-based system could help doctors sort IBS patients faster and better than traditional phone calls, and whether people trust AI to help with healthcare decisions.
  • Who participated: 643 patients with IBS who used the new digital system, plus 5 people (3 patients and 2 dietitians) who shared detailed feedback, and 7 dietitians who answered questions about their views on AI in healthcare.
  • Key finding: The digital system cut waiting times from 57 days to 17.5 days, reduced doctor review time from 20 minutes to 11 minutes per patient, and allowed clinics to handle 2.5 times more appointments—all without making doctors work harder.
  • What it means for you: If you have IBS and need diet help, this technology could mean much shorter waits. However, both patients and doctors want more testing to make sure AI systems are reliable and trustworthy before they become standard care.

The Research Details

Researchers used a structured framework called CFIR to design and test a new digital triage system. They worked with patients and doctors to create a questionnaire that patients could fill out online instead of waiting for a phone call. The team then compared how well the digital system worked compared to the old phone system by measuring waiting times, how long doctors spent reviewing forms, and how many patients the clinic could see.

To understand what people actually thought about using AI in healthcare, researchers interviewed 3 patients and 2 dietitians who had used the new system. They also surveyed 7 dietitians across different hospitals to get a broader picture of how healthcare workers feel about AI. This combination of measuring results and asking people about their experiences gave a complete picture of whether the system worked and whether people trusted it.

This research approach is important because it doesn’t just test whether a new technology works on paper—it tests it in real hospitals with real patients. By combining speed measurements with personal interviews and surveys, researchers could see both the practical benefits and the human concerns about using AI in healthcare. This helps doctors and hospitals decide whether to use these systems and how to improve them.

The study included a large number of patients (643), which makes the results more reliable. The researchers used a recognized framework (CFIR) designed specifically for testing new healthcare systems. However, the qualitative feedback came from only 5 people, which is a small number for drawing broad conclusions about what everyone thinks. The study was conducted in one healthcare system, so results might be different in other hospitals or countries.

What the Results Show

The digital triage system dramatically improved speed and efficiency. Patients waiting for their first appointment went from waiting an average of 56.6 days with the phone system to just 17.5 days with the digital system—a reduction of about 69%. This is a huge improvement for people dealing with uncomfortable IBS symptoms.

Doctors also spent significantly less time reviewing each patient’s information. With phone triage, it took an average of 20 minutes per patient; with digital triage, it dropped to 11 minutes. This 45% time savings meant doctors could see more patients without working longer hours. The clinic’s capacity jumped from being able to handle 400 appointments per year to 1,000 appointments per year—more than double the capacity.

Importantly, 83% of the 643 patients who received the digital triage completed the online questionnaire, showing that most people were willing to use the system. All of these improvements were statistically significant, meaning they weren’t due to chance.

When researchers talked to patients and doctors about their experiences, they found mixed feelings about AI. People saw three main themes: potential benefits (like faster care and better organization), concerns (like whether AI could really understand their individual situation), and questions about when and how AI should be used. Some people worried that a computer system might miss important details that a doctor would catch. Others appreciated not having to wait on hold for a phone call.

This research builds on growing evidence that digital healthcare tools can reduce waiting times and improve efficiency. However, this study is unique because it specifically focuses on IBS diet management and combines both the practical benefits (speed and capacity) with people’s actual attitudes about AI. Previous research has shown that people often worry about AI in healthcare, and this study confirms those concerns exist even when the technology clearly works better.

The study was conducted in one healthcare system, so the results might not apply everywhere. The detailed feedback about AI attitudes came from only 5 people (3 patients and 2 doctors), which is too small a group to say what everyone thinks. The survey of dietitians included only 7 people from one region. The study didn’t follow patients long-term to see if they were actually satisfied with their care or if the diet recommendations helped their IBS symptoms. Additionally, the study didn’t compare how well the digital system’s recommendations compared to phone triage recommendations—just how fast they were.

The Bottom Line

If you have IBS and are waiting for diet help, ask your healthcare provider if they use digital triage systems—they could significantly reduce your wait time (moderate confidence). If your clinic is considering implementing this type of system, the evidence suggests it will improve speed and capacity without overloading doctors (moderate to high confidence). However, both patients and healthcare providers should ask questions about how the AI system works and request human review of recommendations, especially for complex cases (high confidence).

This research matters most for: people with IBS waiting for dietary advice, gastroenterology clinics and hospitals looking to reduce wait times, dietitians and doctors managing IBS patients, and healthcare administrators trying to improve efficiency. It’s less relevant for people with other digestive conditions (though similar systems might help them too) or for those who strongly prefer speaking directly with a doctor without any digital component.

If your clinic implements this system, you could see reduced waiting times within weeks to months. However, the long-term benefits for your IBS symptoms depend on the quality of the dietary recommendations, not just the speed of the system. You should expect to see initial results in 2-4 weeks of following the recommended diet, though IBS improvement varies greatly between individuals.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your IBS symptoms daily (pain level 1-10, bathroom frequency, symptom type) before and after receiving your digital triage dietary recommendations. Compare your symptoms from the week before starting the recommended diet to weeks 2-4 and weeks 4-8 to see if the recommendations are helping.
  • Use the app to set reminders for the dietary changes recommended by your digital triage assessment. For example, if the system recommends increasing fiber gradually or avoiding certain trigger foods, set daily notifications to help you follow the plan and log what you eat.
  • Create a weekly symptom summary in the app that shows your average pain level, frequency of symptoms, and which foods or situations seemed to trigger problems. Share this data with your dietitian at follow-up appointments to see if the digital triage recommendations are working for you personally and to adjust as needed.

This research describes a new healthcare technology system and should not be used to diagnose or treat IBS. If you have symptoms of IBS, consult with a qualified healthcare provider or gastroenterologist for proper evaluation and personalized treatment. While this study shows that digital triage systems can reduce waiting times, the quality of dietary recommendations depends on proper medical evaluation. Do not make major dietary changes based solely on digital systems without discussing them with your doctor or registered dietitian. This summary is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. The attitudes toward AI in this study reflect current concerns that should be discussed with your healthcare team.