Errors in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients: "Errata" Study.

INTRODUCTION

Errors are very common in daily clinical practice; however, they can be prevented. Our aim was to identify the most common errors in the outpatient management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients diagnosed with IBD, being treated at our IBD Unit and who were referred for a second opinion were consecutively enrolled. Data on the strategies implemented by their previous physicians were obtained. These strategies were compared with the currently recommended diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

RESULTS

Seventy-four IBD patients were enrolled. Prior to care in our Unit, screening for tobacco use had been performed in 50% of Crohn's disease patients, while smoking cessation counselling had been provided in 29%. At the time of IBD diagnosis, the hepatitis B virus immunization status had been investigated in 16% of the patients, the hepatitis C virus status in 15%, and the varicella status in 7%. Seven percent of the patients had been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, and 3% against influenza, tetanus and pneumococcus. Sixty-seven percent of the patients with an indication for use of 5-aminosalicylic acid and 37% of those with an indication for immunosuppressants had received the indicated drug.

DISCUSSION

Errors in the outpatient management of IBD patients are very common and relevant.