title: Forming a support group for people affected by inflammatory bowel disease.
abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - primarily Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - is a debilitating lifelong condition with significant health and economic costs. From diagnosis to management, IBD can cause huge psychosocial concerns to patients and their caregivers. This study reports an experience of a Crohn's patient, leading to the formation of the first IBD patient support group in Singapore and how this group has evolved in the last 4 years in supporting other IBD patients. IBD patient advocacy and/or support groups facilitate open conversations on patients' fears, concerns, preferences and needs, and may potentially improve disease knowledge and quality of life for individuals with the condition or their families.
authors.affiliation: Crohn's and Colitis Society of Singapore (CCSS), The Arcadia.
authors.forename: Nidhi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Swarup
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: Saumya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: Srinivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pai Raikar
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: Senthil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sockalingam
authors.affiliation: QuintilesIMS, Science Park One, Singapore.
authors.forename: Ken J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Crohn’s disease; caregivers; patient advocacy groups; patients; ulcerative colitis