Mobile and Web-Based Application for IBD Tracking

Abstract

A community-based private practice specializing in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been tracking patients with both ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) for many years using a variety of measures. Data from these IBD patients with regard to medical therapy, quality of life, UC disease activity index, and CD activity index scoring have been previously published. During the last 10 years, this center has generated a database of over 1000 IBD patients with prospective scoring during office visits alone over multiple time points. The data thus far have been used both individually and collectively when treating IBD to evaluate medical therapies, to decipher reasons for nonadherence, and to measure success in improving overall quality of life for patients. However, office-based questionnaires have obvious limitations, including clinician bias, perception, and problems with patient recall. Prior research has shown that clinician-perceived versus patientperceived symptoms and outcomes are vastly different. Therefore, evaluating IBD patients "real time" using an interactive, simple, patient-controlled system will be valuable in the understanding and management of IBD. To address this need, a mobile and web-based application, called GI Monitor, was developed to allow patients to self score and track their own symptoms using simple drop-down menus on an iPhone, iTouch, Blackberry, or the Internet. This technology allows instantaneous, subjective self scoring by patients at any time point, with the goal of capturing the most accurate picture of IBD and its effect on the lives of patients. Both patients and clinicians have immediate access to the data, including information about abdominal pain, stool frequency, diarrhea, quality of life, food intolerances, and missed work. In addition, the application tracks patients' adherence to a variety of medications. This new method of tracking and data collection will encourage patient self-awareness, monitor data in real time, and process the data more effectively. While encouraging patient autonomy and pertinent feedback, this novel application can help both clinicians and patients better understand what triggers disease flares and thus allow for prompt and effective intervention.