Using the internet to evaluate the opinion of patients with inflammatory bowel disease with regard to the available information

Characteristics and associated factors of health information-seeking behaviour among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the digital era: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Health Information-Seeking Behaviour (HISB) is necessary for self-management and medical decision-making among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). With the advancement of information technology, health information needs and seeking are reshaped among patients with IBD. This scoping review aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of HISB of people with IBD in the digital age.

METHODS

This scoping review adhered to Arksey and O'Malley's framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews frameworks (PRISMA-ScR). A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and three Chinese databases from January 1, 2010 to April 10, 2023. Employing both deductive and inductive content analysis, we scrutinized studies using Wilson's model.

RESULTS

In total, 56 articles were selected. Within the information dimension of HISB among patients with IBD, treatment-related information, particularly medication-related information, was identified as the most critical information need. Other information requirements included basic IBD-related information, daily life and self-management, sexual and reproductive health, and other needs. In the sources dimension, of the eight common sources of information, the internet was the most frequently mentioned source of information, while face-to-face communication with healthcare professionals was the preferred source. Associated factors were categorized into six categories: demographic characteristics, psychological aspects, role-related or interpersonal traits, environmental aspects, source-related characteristics, and disease-related factors. Moreover, the results showed five types of HISB among people with IBD, including active searching, ongoing searching, passive attention, passive searching, and avoid seeking. Notably, active searching, especially social information seeking, appeared to be the predominant common type of HISB among people with IBD in the digital era.

CONCLUSION

Information needs and sources for patients with IBD exhibit variability, and their health information-seeking behaviour is influenced by a combination of diverse factors, including resource-related and individual factors. Future research should focus on the longitudinal changes in HISB among patients with IBD. Moreover, efforts should be made to develop information resources that are both convenient and provide credible information services, although the development of such resources requires further investigation and evaluation.

Identification of the informational and supportive needs of patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease: a scoping review

Background

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) affects the quality of life. Patient education and support needs are crucial components of comprehensive chronic illness care. The main purposes of this review were to (i) explore the informational and supportive needs of these patients to improve the quality of life in the existing literature and (ii) identify the gaps related to the needs of the patients in articles.

Methods

The scoping review is based on the Daudt methodological framework, a modified version of Arksey and O'Malley. Electronic databases were extensively searched from January 01, 2000 to April 30, 2022. Four electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsycArticles, and ProQuest) were searched using controlled vocabulary, and specific keywords. The searched terms were matched to each database. We manually searched two key journals, namely the Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis.

Results

In the review, 75 studies on the assessment of the information and support needs of patients with IBD were reviewed. In this regard, 62 and 53 studies were regarding information needs and support needs, respectively. Most of the information needs of patients with IBD reported in the studies were related to diet needs, and educational needs were the most essential support needs.

Conclusions

Health policymakers and managers can develop care and educational programs related to this disease in health centers according to the needs of the patients. Health professionals, especially gastroenterologists, are the primary referral sources for information on patients. Therefore, gastroenterologists can take the lead in planning and educating the patients and sharing their decisions.

Systematic review registration

OSF, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/3MWGJ.

Insufficient Knowledge and Vaccination Practice of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients in the People's Republic of China

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at risk for HBV and varicella, which makes vaccination an important role.

AIM

To assess knowledge and vaccination rate of Chinese IBD patients and find the influencing factors.

METHODS

An online anonymous questionnaire was distributed to IBD patients through www.wjx.cn in the People's Republic of China during October 2019 to February 2020. The Kappa value and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the data using SPSS 25.0.

RESULTS

Among 900 participants, 746 (82.9%) hadreceived immunosuppressive treatment. Only 25 (2.78%) patients thought that they had sufficient information on vaccination, and 311 (34.6%) patients remembered being reminded about vaccination by their doctors before. The self-reported vaccination rate for hepatitis B was 125/666 (18.8%), and for varicella 44/671 (6.6%). Information from doctors was positively associated with vaccination status of hepatitis B (odds ratio [OR]=4.61, 95% confidence interval [Cl: 2.73-7.76], p<0.001) and varicella (OR=4.93, 95%Cl :2.02-12.05, p<0.001). The patients whose duration of IBD diagnosis was more than 2 years (OR=0.37, 95% Cl: 0.16-0.87, p=0.022) and those older than 38 years (OR=0.37, 95% Cl: 0.14-1.00, p=0.0497) were negatively related with the status of varicella vaccination.

CONCLUSION

Vaccination-related knowledge level in IBD patients appeared to be low and the rate of vaccination of both hepatitis and varicella was way below the recommended level. Proper education of both IBD patients and gastroenterologists in the People's Republic of China is needed.