Inflammatory Bowel Disease Advice Lines: A Scoping Review.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Health Services Research
• Patient Support

Background:

• Telephone and email advice lines are crucial for bridging primary and specialist care for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
• These services support individuals managing unpredictable disease courses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) advice line services.
• To identify research gaps to guide future investigations.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using the patterns, advances, gaps, evidence, and research (PAGER) framework.
• Searches included CINAHL, PubMed, and EMBASE databases, with data extracted by two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Seventeen full-text publications and 22 abstracts (2006-2023) were analyzed.
• Four key patterns emerged: advice lines as complex interventions, drivers of use, patient outcomes, and economic impact.

Conclusions:

• Empirical evidence on the clinical and economic effectiveness of IBD advice lines is limited.
• These nurse-led services act as complex interventions, potentially preventing acute care use and redirecting patient management.
• Further research should evaluate clinical/economic impact, patient experience, and non-user characteristics.