Proposal for innovative and integrated approaches to the unmet needs of patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Preliminary Vigour report
Maurizio Gentile 1, Vincenzo De Luca 2,3, Roberta Patalano 1, Daniela Laudisio 1, Giovanni Tramontano 3,4, Sonja Lindner-Rabl 5, Lorenzo Mercurio 2, Elena Salvatore 6, John Farrell 4, Regina Roller-Wirnsberger 5, Lutz Kubitschke 7, Maria Triassi 2, Annamaria Colao 1,8, Maddalena Illario 2,3,4, on behalf of Vigour Consortium *
1 Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico ll, Napoli, ltaby
2 Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico ll
3 Unita Operativa Semplice Ricerca e Sviluppo, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico ll
4 EIP on AHA Reference Site Collaborative Network, Brussels, Belgium
5 Department ofInteral Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
6 Dipartimento di Scienze biomediche avanzate, Universita deeli Studi di Napoli Federico ll
7 Empirica Gesellscbafi fir Kommunikations-und Tecbnologieforscbung mbH, Bonn, Germany
8 United Naions Educational, Scientihc and Culural Oranization (UNESCO) Chair for Healtb Education and Susainable Development Federico Il University, Napoli, Italy
*VIGOUR CONSORTIUM (Evidence based Guidance to Scale-up Integrated Care in Europe), funded by the European Union’s Health Programme 2014–2020 under Grant Agreement Number 826640.
Ann. Ital. Chir. 2022, 93(6), 609–614
Published: 1 Nov 2022
Copyright © 2022 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
Abstract
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common multifactorial condition that affects the large intestine and is characterized by chronic and relapsing abdominal pain and altered bowel habit. IBS is due to a combination of genetic, environmental and dietary factors. It’s usually a lifelong problem very frustrating to live with and can have a big impact on quality of life, as single-agent therapy rarely relieves bothersome symptoms for all patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the approaches and solutions that address the social and health unmet needs of patients with IBS. A qualitative approach was adopted in the current study to identify and specify key digital solution and high impact user scenarios applied to IBS patients, through an adaptation of the “Blueprint on Digital Transformation in Health and Care in an Ageing Society” persona methodology. A Survey was administered to a group of patients in anonymous form. The theoretical elaboration IBS personas was developed through an interdisciplinary Focus Group, which also mapped the pathway for the patient’s management. Three main needs were identified to be met to improve IBS patient’s lifestyle: access to psychological support, mHealth solutions supporting diet and adapted physical activity, and homebased digital health support. mHealth intervention has been identified for diet adherence, physical exercise and psychological well-being. The process has been mapped and adapted to integrate the new solutions into the care pathway. Further research is needed to evaluate how mHealth services enable IBS patients to manage their conditions and improve their quality of life.