Lost in translation: helping patients understand the risks of inflammatory bowel disease therapy

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease are commonly treated with immunomodulators and biologic therapy. These treatments can be very effective, but are associated with risks of adverse events that need to be discussed with patients. Effectively communicating risks of therapy can be challenging based on time constraints, misinformation available on the Internet and from others, and the lack of tools to efficiently share accurate data with patients and their families. Providers need to acknowledge the emotional aspect involved in the perception of risk, and be aware of mistakes that can easily be made in communicating with patients. Tools are available to make medical data easier to understand, and these techniques have been adapted for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. By more clearly communicating with patients, we can ensure that they are making informed medical decisions that fit with their personal preferences for treatment.