[Towards an integral management of inflammatory bowel disease]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract with medical and psychological complications. Addressing psychosocial aspects of treatment, such as quality of care and disability remains a challenge. The quality of care for IBD patients is not optimal at the present time and there is a variation in the care provided by specialists. Therefore, it is necessary to develop well defined quality indicators to assure the delivery of an adequate care to these patients. The delivery of healthcare for IBD patients is often complex and requires multidisciplinary teams. The ultimate objectives in the treatment of IBD should be to prevent bowel damage, reduce long-term disability and maintain a normal quality of life.