Perceptions of medication safety among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Cullen, Garret Donnellan, Fergal Long, Syapiq Forry, Mary Murray, Frank E
Cullen, Garret
Donnellan, Fergal
Long, Syapiq
Forry, Mary
Murray, Frank E
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Date
2010-09
Date Submitted
Keywords
Other Subjects
Subject Mesh
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Colitis, Ulcerative
Crohn Disease
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Male
Middle Aged
Perception
Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Colitis, Ulcerative
Crohn Disease
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Male
Middle Aged
Perception
Questionnaires
Treatment Outcome
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
Alternative Titles
Publisher
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess attitudes towards and knowledge of medication safety in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD patients frequently require long-term treatment with potentially toxic medications. Techniques are employed to improve patient awareness of medication safety, but there are sparse data on their effectiveness.
Questionnaires relating to the safety and efficacy of commonly used IBD treatments (aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics) were completed by IBD patients attending the gastroenterology clinics at a teaching hospital.
One hundred patients (51 male) with a median (interquartile range) age of 37 (29-49) years were included: 56 Crohn's disease, 44 ulcerative colitis. Aminosalicylates (median 0.8 (IQR 0.1-1.9)) were ranked as the safest medication; corticosteroids (4.6 (1.1-8.2)), immunomodulators (4.2 (1.1-8.4) and biologics (4.4 (1.1-6.8)) were ranked equally. 36%, 53% and 79% reported no knowledge regarding safety of corticosteroids, immunomodulators and biologics, respectively. Most patients wish to be informed of all medication side-effects, no matter how rare, and ranked their gastroenterologist as their primary information source.
IBD patients want to be informed of all potential adverse events and identify their gastroenterologist as their principal information source. The majority have no knowledge regarding or underestimate the toxicity of common IBD medications. This places a responsibility on gastroenterologists to manage and meet patients' expectations in the area of medication safety.
Questionnaires relating to the safety and efficacy of commonly used IBD treatments (aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, biologics) were completed by IBD patients attending the gastroenterology clinics at a teaching hospital.
One hundred patients (51 male) with a median (interquartile range) age of 37 (29-49) years were included: 56 Crohn's disease, 44 ulcerative colitis. Aminosalicylates (median 0.8 (IQR 0.1-1.9)) were ranked as the safest medication; corticosteroids (4.6 (1.1-8.2)), immunomodulators (4.2 (1.1-8.4) and biologics (4.4 (1.1-6.8)) were ranked equally. 36%, 53% and 79% reported no knowledge regarding safety of corticosteroids, immunomodulators and biologics, respectively. Most patients wish to be informed of all medication side-effects, no matter how rare, and ranked their gastroenterologist as their primary information source.
IBD patients want to be informed of all potential adverse events and identify their gastroenterologist as their principal information source. The majority have no knowledge regarding or underestimate the toxicity of common IBD medications. This places a responsibility on gastroenterologists to manage and meet patients' expectations in the area of medication safety.
Language
en
ISSN
1502-7708
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
10.3109/00365521.2010.490595
PMID
20459367