Understanding of chemoprophylaxis and concordance in inflammatory bowel disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess patients' understanding for the reasons for taking 5-aminosalicylic acid or ursodeoxycholic acid as chemoprophylaxis against colorectal carcinoma associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).


METHODS
A questionnaire-based study using a 5-point opinion scale was performed. One hundred and ninety-two patients with colitis only and 74 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and IBD were invited to take part.


RESULTS
Overall response rate was 58%. Sixty-four percent of patients claimed full concordance with chemoprophylaxis for maintenance of remission. Eighty-four percent of patients considered daily concordance during remission to be very important. Seventy-five percent stated they understood the reasons for taking the drugs. However, only 50% of the patients were aware of any link of their condition to bowel cancer. Seventy-nine percent of patients felt their concordance and understanding would be improved if they were informed of the chemoprophylactic potential of the medication.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite good self-reported concordance, half of the patients were unaware of an association between colitis and bowel cancer. Explaining the potential chemoprophylactic benefits may enhance patients' overall concordance to 5-aminosalicylic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid and help maintain remission.
Low
Adam
A
Department of Gastroenterology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 6HT, UK.
Love
Melanie
M
Walt
Robert
R
Kane
Katherine
K
Eksteen
Bertus
B
Goh
Jason
J
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D019804:Mesalamine; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid