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Stakeholder Perspectives on Access to IBD Care: Proceedings From a National IBD Access Summit
Sonja MacDonald1, Courtney Heisler2, Holly Mathias3
1Dalhousie University School of Medicine, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Insights
Access to specialized inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) care in Canada is complex. This study identified system structure, process inefficiencies, and outcome utilization as key barriers to optimal IBD care delivery.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Health Services Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Canada faces high rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition impacting many Canadians.
- Effective IBD specialty care is crucial for patient outcomes, yet access remains a significant challenge.
- Understanding barriers to IBD specialty care is vital for improving healthcare delivery and patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify barriers and facilitators impacting access to IBD specialty care in Canada.
- To explore the perceptions and experiences of diverse stakeholders involved in IBD care.
- To inform strategies for enhancing IBD care accessibility and quality.
Main Methods:
- A collaborative IBD Summit was convened, involving key stakeholders including patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
- Stakeholder perceptions and experiences were gathered through qualitative methods, including transcription, coding, and thematic analysis.
- Common themes related to access to IBD care were identified across different provinces and healthcare systems.
Main Results:
- Three primary categories emerged: inadequate system structure, process inefficiencies, and the need for outcome-based system improvements.
- Stakeholders across Canada shared similar perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators to IBD care access.
- Common challenges transcended provincial and healthcare system boundaries, indicating systemic issues.
Conclusions:
- Implementing comprehensive, multidisciplinary IBD care models is clinically important.
- Enhanced communication and information sharing among healthcare providers are essential.
- Streamlined referral processes and integration of best practices are recommended to improve IBD care delivery.
Background:
Canada has among the highest incidence and prevalence rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world. While access to IBD specialty care can have a direct impact on health-related outcomes, the complexity of accessing IBD specialty care within Canada is not well understood and presents a barrier to implementation and evaluation of IBD specialty care.
Aim:
The IBD Summit was held in partnership with Crohn's & Colitis Canada to identify barriers and facilitators of IBD specialty care by exploring the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders of IBD care across Canada.
Results:
A total of 20 key stakeholders attended, including gastroenterologists, patients, researchers and policymakers. Perceptions and experiences of stakeholders were transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed. Three key categories relating to access to IBD care arose: (1) inadequate system structure, (2) process inefficiencies and (3) using outcomes to guide system change. The IBD Summit identified similar perceptions and experiences among stakeholders and across provinces, highlighting common barriers and facilitators that transcended provincial and health care system boundaries.
Conclusions:
Key suggestions identify the clinical importance of comprehensive integrated multidisciplinary care approaches with enhanced communication between patient and health care providers, greater information sharing among team members, streamlined referral and triage processes, and improved incorporation of best practice into clinical care. Stakeholders across Canada and in other countries may benefit from the suggestions presented herein, as well as the successful use of collaborative and inclusive methods of gathering the perceptions and experiences of key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
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