Table 4 Measurements

Primary health outcome: Adequate symptom relief at 6 months according patients

Secondary health outcomes:

Severity of the GI complaints (at 2 weeks and after each treatment step)

Quality of life at 6 months (at 2 weeks and after each treatment step)

Additional research questions investigated:

- The cost-effectiveness of both treatment strategies.

- The association between genetic determinants and dyspepsia and treatment success.

- Compliance with prescribed medication advices and life-style advices and which factors influence compliance.

- The association between psychosocial determinants and dyspepsia and treatment success.

Self-administered questionnaires used:

- General questionnaire to measure effect of the treatment, costs, work absenteeism, demographical determinants, co-medication used and life-style.

- Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire; EuroQol 5D; SF 36; Compliance Questionnaire; SCL 90; Health Hardiness; Utrechts Coping List; Major Life Events