[Ambulatory education of patient with Crohn disease/ulcerative colitis]

Patient education has been accepted widely over the past years as a valid component of disease management in patients with chronic diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of patient education in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Participation in a patient education program should increase the patient's disease-related knowledge and positively influence the patient's quality of life, depression, beliefs of internal control and social activity.

We studied 36 patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: 18 were educated in four sessions, 18 were not educated (control-group). The following topics were presented: diagnosis, causes and course of disease; medication and surgery; nutrition and social benefits and stress management and coping with the disease.

The effects of the program were evaluated before, immediately and three months after the intervention using questionnaires. Participants in the program showed a significant increase in knowledge after three months compared with the non-participants. There were positive, although not significant effects on psychosocial variables.

Patient education is a valuable means to increase knowledge of disease and treatment in patient's with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Effects on psychosocial variables need to be examined on a long term basis in larger patient groups.