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Multicenter Study
. 2025 Nov 1;31(11):3132-3141.
doi: 10.1093/ibd/izaf154.

Preferences, Acceptability, and Utilization of Multimodal Self-Help Interventions in Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Pragmatic Multicenter Study With Patients and Clinicians

Chung Sang Tse  1 , Melissa G Hunt  2 , James D Lewis  1 , Arthur Ostrov  3 , Samir A Shah  4   5 , Hannah W Fiske  6 , Stephanie M Burwell  3 , Erin M Forster  7 , Jill K J Gaidos  8 , Robert H Kuehnel  1 , Emily Sheng  9 , Michelle Lu  9 , Chien-Hsiang Weng  10 , Courtney Benjamin Wolk  11 , Catherine Soto  12 , S Alandra Weaver  12 , Gil Y Melmed  13 , Corey A Siegel  14 , Welmoed K van Deen  15
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Preferences, Acceptability, and Utilization of Multimodal Self-Help Interventions in Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Pragmatic Multicenter Study With Patients and Clinicians

Chung Sang Tse et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Despite the benefits of self-help resources in several chronic diseases, a knowledge gap exists regarding patients' and clinicians' experiences and attitudes toward multimodal self-help resources in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Methods: Confidence Optimization through Resources for Education, Engagement, and Empowerment (CORE) was a prospective, convergent parallel mixed-methods study conducted across 5 gastroenterology practices participating in the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's IBD Qorus Learning Health System from 2022 to 2023. Five IBD-specific multimodal self-help resources (workbook, 2 smartphone apps, help center, and peer mentoring) were offered to patients. E-surveys (weeks 0, 6, and 12) and three 60-minute focus groups elicited the perspectives and experiences of patients and providers regarding self-help resources. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses explored patients' preferences, acceptability, and utilization of self-help resources.

Results: Of 536 patients with IBD, only 3.7% previously used self-help resources, yet 80.0% (427/536) selected at least one multimodal self-help resource when offered. Patients with low health confidence in managing IBD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5, 95% CI, 1.1-5.6, P = .03) and females (aOR 2.5, 95% CI, 1.2-5.2, P = .02) were more likely to choose self-help resources. After 12 weeks, 75.0% (81/108) used at least 1 self-help resource. Asynchronous resources (books and smartphone apps) were used more often than synchronous resources (help center and peer mentorship). Patients preferred resources suggested by their clinicians, although clinicians expressed a lack of time in the clinic and a lack of knowledge about self-help resources as barriers.

Conclusions: Few patients with IBD use self-help resources, even though the majority regard multimodal self-help resources as acceptable and feasible to get information, find community and support, and manage living with IBD.

Keywords: acceptability; health confidence; preferences; self-help; self-management.

Plain language summary

Few patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use self-help resources, even though a majority find them feasible and acceptable for getting information, finding community and support, and managing the physical and psychosocial impacts of IBD. Patients prefer accessible self-help resources suggested by their clinicians.

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