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. 2025 Feb 16:18:17562848251319807.
doi: 10.1177/17562848251319807. eCollection 2025.

"Simpleness": a qualitative description study exploring patient perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of using digital health tools to self-manage inflammatory bowel disease

Lekan Ajibulu  1 , Kaitlyn Delaney Chappell  1 , Cynthia H Seow  2   3 , Karen J Goodman  1   4 , Karen Wong  5
Affiliations

"Simpleness": a qualitative description study exploring patient perspectives on the barriers and facilitators of using digital health tools to self-manage inflammatory bowel disease

Lekan Ajibulu et al. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition requiring lifelong management and frequent interactions with healthcare providers. Digital health tools have the potential to enhance disease management by providing real-time data and improving care coordination. Despite their potential, there is limited evidence on patient perspectives regarding barriers and facilitators to the adoption of these tools.

Objectives: To explore patient perspectives on the barriers and facilitators associated with using digital health tools for IBD self-management, focusing on the adoption of a tool called MyIBDToolkit.

Design: This study employed a qualitative description approach to gather detailed insights into patient experiences.

Methods: Participants with a confirmed IBD diagnosis were recruited from clinics in Alberta, Canada. Data were collected via virtual semi-structured interviews conducted between June and July 2024. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes, and member checking ensured the credibility of the findings.

Results: Eighteen interviews were conducted, reaching thematic saturation. Participants viewed MyIBDToolkit as beneficial for enhancing disease monitoring and care coordination. However, concerns about data entry burden, privacy, and engagement emerged as significant barriers. Variability in healthcare provider use of the tool was another critical concern.

Conclusion: While digital health tools such as MyIBDToolkit have the potential to improve IBD self-management, addressing barriers such as usability, privacy, and sustainability is crucial. Incorporating patient feedback during the design process can enhance the effectiveness and acceptability of these tools in chronic disease management.

Keywords: digital health; electronic health records; patient perspectives; qualitative research; self-management.

Plain language summary

Patient views on using digital tools to manage inflammatory bowel disease This study looked at how people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) feel about using digital health tools to help manage their condition. IBD is a long-term illness that affects the digestive system and requires constant monitoring. Researchers wanted to understand what helps or makes it harder for patients to use digital tools to manage their disease. Eighteen people with IBD from Alberta, Canada, were interviewed for the study. They were introduced to a digital health tool called “MyIBDToolkit,” designed to help patients track their symptoms and share information with their doctors. Many participants said they liked the idea of using the tool, as it could make it easier to monitor their health and communicate with healthcare providers. They believed it could lead to better care and faster treatment. However, some participants also mentioned concerns. They worried about the effort required to regularly enter data into the tool and whether healthcare providers would actually use the information. Privacy and security of personal health data were also important concerns for some users. The study concluded that while digital tools like MyIBDToolkit have potential, their success depends on making them easy to use and addressing concerns about privacy. Including patient feedback in the design process can improve these tools, making them more effective for managing IBD.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Domains and themes that characterize participants’ expectations of the value of using MyIBDToolkit.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Participant-identified factors that would influence their use of MyIBDToolkit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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