How smart phones could improve IBD patient care in rural Scotland

What the research is looking at: 

Many people with IBD living in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland live a long way from their gastroenterology team.  Some have a four hour car journey to see their gastroenterologist.  Also, in such rural areas, GPs may only have one patient with IBD – meaning that they may not have much experience in dealing with the condition.  

The researchers in this study want to see how the use of smart phones could help this group of patients whose rural location means they have limited access to care. 

The grant will fund the development and testing of a smart phone application (software package) that can be used by patients in the Highlands to monitor their symptoms.  The patients will be able to score how severe their symptoms are – and the data will be transferred securely to the research team at Raigmore Hospital.  If any of the symptoms deviate from normal, both the patient and the IBD Nurse will be alerted.  The IBD Nurse will then be able to contact the patient either via the smart phone or landline and hold a consultation.  

The grant will fund both the design of the application, and a controlled trial among people with IBD to see if it works.  The researchers also hope to measure whether using the smart phone improves patient’s quality of life. 

Conclusions: 

This is an ongoing study, with no conclusions as yet. 

What do the researchers think this could mean for people with IBD? 

If the smart phone application is successful, then it will help personalise the care given to IBD patients.  It may mean that patients do not need to visit their GP or hospital so often. 

Who's leading the research: Prof Angus Watson, Raigmore Hospital NHS Highland, Inverness
Our funding: £75,257 over 24 months 
Official title of the application: “Personalised care with Smart Phones for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.”
Tags: technology, personalised care