Perspectives of gastroenterologists on an educational curriculum to promote self-management in young adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) face challenges transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare, where they assume greater responsibility for their care. The Transition Adolescent & Young Adults implementioN (IBD-TrAYN) intervention is part of a multisite hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial launched in 2022 to address gaps in transition care. Online educational modules were developed to enhance disease knowledge and self-management skills among AYAs.

AIM: To explore adult gastroenterologists' perspectives on transition-related education and curriculum developed as part of the IBD-TrAYN intervention.

METHODS

Adult gastroenterologists across Canada with experience treating AYAs with IBD were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Three virtual focus groups were conducted with 11 gastroenterologists to explore perspectives on the curriculum. Transcripts were analyzed by 2 independent reviewers using content analysis.

RESULTS

Participants identified the IBD-TrAYN curriculum as a valuable tool for addressing common educational barriers in AYA care. These included provider- and system-level barriers, such as limited clinical time and allied health support, and differences in patient readiness. Priority content included disease knowledge, self-management skills, mental health, and sexual health. Caregiver education was highlighted as an important part of transition care. Suggested improvements included consolidating content, increasing interactivity, and ensuring flexible, self-paced access to support individualized engagement.

CONCLUSION

Adult gastroenterologists endorsed the value of the IBD-TrAYN curriculum in bridging educational gaps during transition to adult care. Incorporating these insights, particularly prioritizing key topics and enhancing interactivity, may strengthen future iterations and promote effective, patient-centred transition care for AYAs with IBD.