Inflammatory Bowel Disease Advice Lines: A Scoping Review

Telephone or email advice lines offer a service that bridges primary and specialist care provision, supporting the needs of those living with an unpredictable disease course. This scoping review aimed to systematically synthesize published evidence with regard to Inflammatory Bowel Disease advice line services and to identify gaps in research to inform further work.

A scoping review was undertaken in accordance with the patterns, advances, gaps, evidence, and research framework. Databases searched included CINAHL, PubMed, and EMBASE. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied by 2 reviewers independently. Data were collected using a predefined matrix, from which the framework was applied as a means of systematically collating patterns, advances, gaps, evidence, and research recommendations.

Seventeen full-text publications and 22 abstracts published between 2006 and 2023 were included. Four overarching patterns were identified: advice lines as a complex intervention, drivers for advice line encounters, patient outcomes, and economic impact of advice lines.

The current evidence landscape lacks empirical research supporting the clinical and economic effectiveness of advice lines. Inflammatory bowel disease advice lines are commonly a nurse-led service functioning as a complex intervention, supporting both administrative and clinical issues. They appear pivotal in preventing use of acute services and escalating or re-directing care, including treatment, investigation, and advice. Further research should focus on robust clinical and economic evaluation for patients and services, exploring patient experience of advice line services, including barriers and facilitators, and characterizing those who do not currently access the service.