Patients' information-seeking activity is associated with treatment compliance in inflammatory bowel disease patients

Abstract

Background. Despite the chronic and relapsing nature of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), at least 30% to 45% of the patients are noncompliant to treatment. IBD patients often seek information about their disease. Aim. To examine the association between information-seeking activity and treatment compliance among IBD patients. To compare information sources and concerns between compliant and noncompliant patients. Methods. We used data from the Swiss IBD cohort study, and from a qualitative survey conducted to assess information sources and concerns. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) for noncompliance were calculated. Differences in the proportions of information sources and concerns were compared between compliant and noncompliant patients. Results. A total of 512 patients were included. About 18% (n = 99) of patients were reported to be noncompliant to drug treatment and two-thirds (n = 353) were information seekers. The OR for noncompliance among information seekers was 2.44 (95%CI: 1.34–4.41) after adjustment for confounders and major risk factors. General practitioners were 15.2% more often consulted (p = 0.019) among compliant patients, as were books and television (+13.1%; p = 0.048), whereas no difference in proportions was observed for sources such as internet or gastroenterologists. Information on tips for disease management were 14.2% more often sought among noncompliant patients (p = 0.028). No difference was observed for concerns on research and development on IBD or therapies. Conclusion. In Switzerland, IBD patients noncompliant to treatment were more often seeking disease-related information than compliant patients. Daily management of symptoms and disease seemed to be an important concern of those patients.

Key Words::

• compliance to treatment
• Crohn's disease
• information concerns
• information seeking
• ulcerative colitis

Acknowledgment

This study was carried out by all the gastroenterologists and investigators listed in the appendix.

Statement of authorship

Study design and conception (VP, JPV), statistical analysis (VP), analysis and interpretation (VP, GR, CM, FF, PM, PdS, BB, JPV), drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content (VP, GR, CM, FF, PM, PdS, BB, JPV), final reading and approval of the manuscript (VP, GR, CM, FF, PM, PdS, BB, JPV).

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. The study is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) grants N°33CS30-134274 (Swiss IBD cohort study) and 32473B-138498 (Appropriateness of care in IBD).