Providing Hospitalized Ulcerative Colitis Patients With Practice Guidelines Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Quality Improvement
• Patient Education

Background:

• Hospitalized ulcerative colitis (UC) care shows significant variation.
• Physician adherence to clinical guidelines for UC management is inconsistent.
• Patient-centered guideline dissemination strategies in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a patient-directed educational intervention incorporating inpatient UC management guidelines.
• To evaluate effects on clinical outcomes and patient-reported outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized trial involving seven tertiary IBD centers.
• Intervention group received a video summarizing UC inpatient guidelines; control group received standard care.
• Primary outcomes: length of stay, colectomy rates. Secondary outcomes: patient trust in physician, patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in length of stay or colectomy rates between groups.
• Patients receiving the intervention reported higher trust in physicians at discharge (P=0.028) and 6 months (P=0.008).
• Patient satisfaction was higher at discharge in the intervention group (P=0.04) but not sustained.

Conclusions:

• Patient empowerment through guideline education can enhance trust and satisfaction in UC care.
• Further research is warranted to explore strategies for active patient engagement in IBD management.
• This study highlights the potential of patient-directed interventions in improving the patient experience.