Frank V. Schiødt[1], Klaus Theede[2], Rikke Therkildsen[1], Birgitte Blichfeldt[3], Lene Neergaard[3], Anne Holm[2], Bo T. Vestergaard[4], and Ebbe Langholz[3]

Affiliates

Digestive Disease Center K, Bispebjerg Hospital, Denmark[1] Gastrounit, Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark [2] Gastro Unit, Herlev Hospital, Denmark [3] Ferring Lægemidler A/S, Denmark[4]

Abstract

Background: In IBD, patient involvement, empowerment, and patient-related outcome (PRO) is becoming increasingly important. In order to address these issues, we developed the tool IBD-PRO and added fast home measurements of fecal calprotectin to help patients with ulcerative colitis to a better understanding of their disease and symptoms’ severity.
Methods: This was a 3-center study. Twenty-one UC patients were included in an 8-week trial period. A mobile-phone application (IBD-PRO) was developed on the basis of SCCAI and modified IBD-Control. Patients completed the IBDPRO questions every week (taking approximately 60 seconds each time to complete). For every recording a feedback of green, yellow, or red was achieved, indicating low, moderate or high IBD activity, respectively. Every 2 weeks a home kit (Calprosmart–Home Testkit ) for fast (20 minutes) measurement of calprotectin was used. Results from IBD-PRO and the home calprotectin were sent electronically to the respective centers. Thirteen patients and 6 involved health care professionals (3 doctors, 3 nurses) completed a validated questionnaire (Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ)) at the end of the study
Results: Patients reported a high degree of satisfaction with IBD-PRO. They reported IBD-PRO to increase involvement in the disease, to increase communication with the hospitals, to save time, and to be well-functioning. Patients also reported IBD-PRO not to be disturbing to complete and to be a good supplement to usual contact to the hospital. Health care professionals reported: that IBD-PRO lead to a better self-monitoring of the disease, and that IBD-PRO improved understanding of IBD in the patients. Home calprotectin measuring was evaluated as both time-saving and to improve IBD treatment, by both patients and health care professionals.
Conclusions: IBD-PRO is a new tool for UC patients including an app-based interactive tool for monitoring IBD activity, and we added fast home measurement of calprotectin. Patients and health care professionals expressed a very high degree of satisfaction with the tool. A larger trial to determine the clinical value of IBD-PRO seems warranted.