International Study Reveals Disconnect Between Patients and Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) over Symptom Burden in Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
AMSTERDAM, October 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
The results of an international survey to assess patients’ and healthcare
professionals’ (HCPs’) differing perceptions of ulcerative colitis have been presented at
a Shire organised press briefing during the 20th United European Gastroenterology Week
(UEGW) meeting in Amsterdam today. The ‘Mind the Gap’ survey, which was sponsored by
Shire, is the first international study in ulcerative colitis (UC) to compare the views
and beliefs of patients, physicians and specialist nurses. It identifies key differences
between patients’ and HCPs’ perceptions of the impact of UC symptoms on patients’
lives.[1]
Commenting on the findings, Professor Stefan Schreiber, Department for General
Internal Medicine and Institute for Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian Albrechts
University, Germany and lead author said “One of the main conclusions of the survey is
that HCPs may underestimate the effect of specific UC symptoms on patients and may not
recognise issues that are important to patients. For example, patients’ classification of
their own symptom severity revealed greater severity particularly when compared with
physician estimates and more than half of patients stated that UC symptoms over the past
year had affected their quality of life, while physicians estimated that just over one
third of patients would have a reduced quality of life over the same period.”
In addition, the survey, which involved 775 patients with UC and 525 HCPs involved
with the treatment of patients with the disease from five European countries (France,
Germany, Ireland, Spain and the UK) and Canada, show:
- On average, patients reported almost six flare ups in the previous year
while physicians and nurses reported almost four[1]
- Pain was key for patients, ranking as one of the top two most bothersome
symptoms (with urgency), while physicians and nurses ranked urgency and stool
frequency highest[1]
- Seventy-two per cent of patients regarded HCPs as their main source of UC
information. However, 59% reported not arranging regular visits to see their HCPs[1]
The results suggest that improved communication between patients and their physician
or specialist nurse and better patient education could help to address these issues.[1]
“In this way, the patient would be more able to recognise the symptoms of active disease
and participate in the selection of diagnostic and therapeutic options, which would
contribute to more personalised management”, commented Professor Julian Panes,
Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Spain, who led the survey
alongside Professor Schreiber. “The findings therefore add to a growing body of evidence,
which indicates that improved communication between patients and HCPs is fundamental to
the successful management of ulcerative colitis.”
Notes to editors
About Mind the Gap
The survey included 775 patients with UC and 525 HCPs involved with the treatment of
patients with the UC from five European countries and Canada. (Please note that 50 of the
HCPs involved in the research were specialist nurses specialising in inflammatory bowel
disease (IBD). However, these were only UK based.) The survey was conducted online between
10 June and 20 August 2010 in Canada, Germany, Ireland, Spain and the UK and between 20
January and 24 February 2011 in France and the results were originally published in BMC
Gastroenterology in August 2012. The survey was sponsored by Shire PLC.
For further information on Mind the Gap, please visit:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-230X-12-108.pdf
About ulcerative colitis
UC is a chronic condition and a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It is estimated to
affect 120 to 200 per 100,000 people in the Western world[4] and the highest incidence and
prevalence rates have been reported in Northern Europe, the UK and North America. The most
common symptoms of UC include diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, rectal bleeding, frequent fever
and nausea and the disease typically runs a relapsing-remitting course. There is currently
no cure for the condition so the aim of treatment is to relieve symptoms during a flare up
and prevent symptoms from returning during remission.
About Shire PLC
Shire enables people with life-altering conditions to lead better lives.
Through our deep understanding of patients’ needs, we develop and provide healthcare
in the areas of:
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Behavioral health
- Rare Diseases
- Regenerative Medicine
as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialists.
We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating value for patients,
physicians, policymakers, payors and our shareholders.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company’s website:
http://www.shire.com.
References
1) Schreiber S, Panes J, et al. Perception gaps between patients with UC and
healthcare professionals: an online survey. BMC Gastroenterology 2012.
2) Cosnes J, Gower-Rousseau C, et al. Epidemiology and natural history of
inflammatory bowel diseases. Gastroenterology 2011, 140:1785-1794.
3) Loftus EV, Jr. Clinical epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease:
Incidence, prevalence, and environmental influences. Gastroenterology. 2004;126(6
):1504-17.
4) American Gastroenterological Association Web site. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
page. Available at
http://www.gastro.org/patient-center/digestive-conditions/inflammatory-bowel-disease
. Accessed 10 October, 2012.
For further information please contact:
Katie Banks
(Virgo HEALTH)
Katie.Banks@virgohealth.com
+44(0)7939-060701/
+44(0)208-939-1271
Ed Purkis
(Virgo HEALTH)
Ed.Purkis@virgohealth.com
+44(0)7867-456756/
+44(0)208-939-1261
Ingrid Jansen
(Shire Corporate Communications)
ijansen@shire.com
+32-494-707-459/
+32-14-404-360
Gwen Fisher
(Shire Corporate Communications)
gfisher@shire.com
+1-484-595-9836
SOURCE Shire plc
