Exploring the evidence that supports the benefits of the multidisciplinary team in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition with significant clinical and socioeconomic burdens. The Multidisciplinary IBD Team has emerged as the gold standard in IBD management, offering a holistic, patient-centred approach that integrates clinicians, surgeons and other allied professionals with complimentary skill sets. This review examines international evidence supporting multidisciplinary implementation, highlighting improved clinical, economic and logistical outcomes. 59 studies were identified through a systematic search through Medline OVID. Studies involving a member of the multidisciplinary team in isolation and as a whole team or variation of this were included for analysis. Despite strong endorsement in national standards, access to multidisciplinary care remains uneven, with only a minority of services providing full integration. Barriers include funding, workforce shortages, and geographic inequities. While current data support multidisciplinary efficacy, further standardized research is needed, particularly in low-resource and rural settings. With rising IBD prevalence, widespread adoption of multidisciplinary models is essential for sustainable, high-quality care delivery.