title: Satisfaction and expectations of patients with inflammatory bowel disease on biologic therapy: a multicenter study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The satisfaction perceived by patients with chronic diseases affects clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) develop a more severe form requiring biologic therapy. We assessed the quality of care perceived by IBD patients in dedicated centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study enrolled consecutive IBD patients who underwent biologic therapy in the participating centers. The nurses directly involved in the management of these patients explained the rationale of the survey, provided a specific questionnaire (CACHE), and collected data. The CACHE included 31 items structured in 6 domains: staff care, clinician care, center facilities, patient information, accessibility, and patient support. Patients' satisfaction score for each domain ranged from 0 to 100%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen different Italian centers participated and a total of 450 patients were enrolled (283 with Crohn's disease and 167 with ulcerative colitis). The overall score was 82.2±19.6, satisfaction with the clinicians care scoring the highest (87.6±3.2) and the information provided to the patient scoring the lowest (70.7±7.9). More specifically, it emerged that 5.2-19.5% of patients were unsatisfied with: 1) the communication between the IBD medical team and primary care physicians; 2) information received about the disease or patients' associations; and 3) the accessibility of the center.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although our data revealed an acceptably high rate of global satisfaction among IBD patients receiving biologic therapy, more effort should be made to improve patient information and communication between IBD teams, other specialists and primary care physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome (Alessandra Guarini, Angelo Zullo).
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Careggi Hospital, Florence (Silvia Biagini).
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Santa Scolastica Hospital, Cassino (Antonella Capaldi).
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capaldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Cardinal Massaia Hospital, Asti (Daniela Carretto).
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carretto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Fabrizio Spaziani Hospital, Frosinone (Anna De Angelis).
authors.forename: Anna De
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angelis
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology INRCA U. Sestilli Hospital, Ancona (Salvatore Iudice).
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iudice
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology IRCSS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, San Giovanni Rotondo (Giuseppina Martino).
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology A. Murri Hospital, Fermo (Barbara Marziali).
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marziali
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Maria Vittoria Hospital, Turin (Roberta Mattiola).
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattiola
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Sant' Andrea Hospital, La Spezia (Cristina Ongarelli).
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ongarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Brotzu Hospital, Cagliari (Francesca Maria Onidi).
authors.forename: Francesca Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Onidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Mauriziano Hospital, Turin (Manuela Prinzio).
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prinzio
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Tor Vergata University Hospital, Rome (Reetha Puthiavettil).
authors.forename: Reetha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Puthiavettil
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology San Camillo Hospital, Rome (Romina Sardi).
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Gemelli University Hospital, Rome (Elisa Schiavoni).
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiavoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Pugliese Ciaccio Hospital, Catanzaro (Rita Sinatora), Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinatora
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology Nuovo Regina Margherita Hospital, Rome (Alessandra Guarini, Angelo Zullo).
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zullo
keywords: Crohn’s disease; Inflammatory bowel disease; biologic therapy; patient satisfaction; ulcerative colitis