Self-management for people with inflammatory bowel disease

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The current healthcare landscape in North America and the UK emphasizes patient self-management for chronic diseases.
• Physician shortages and long waiting times necessitate innovative care models like co-management.
• Conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are suitable for informed patient participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on self-management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• To propose a framework for implementing self-management in the IBD population.
• To explore the use of patient passports and email-supported care contracts in IBD management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on IBD self-management.
• Development of a framework for patient self-management in IBD.
• Discussion of specific management strategies for various IBD scenarios.
• Consideration of patient passports and email-based communication (supported by email contracts).

Main Results:

• Self-management empowers informed patients to co-manage their IBD with physicians.
• Tools like patient passports and secure email communication can facilitate this model.
• Potential benefits include reduced office visits, leading to environmental and economic advantages.
• Specific management strategies for diverse IBD situations are outlined.

Conclusions:

• Self-management offers a viable and beneficial paradigm for IBD care, especially given current healthcare system pressures.
• The proposed framework, incorporating patient passports and email, can enhance patient engagement and potentially improve efficiency.
• Potential drawbacks of this self-management approach require careful consideration and mitigation.