Integrating perspectives on transabdominal intestinal ultrasound in inflammatory bowel disease management: a nationwide cross-sectional survey of physicians and patients in China.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The awareness, accessibility, and utilization of transabdominal intestinal ultrasound (IUS) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management from both physicians' and patients' perspectives remains unclear in China. This nationwide cross-sectional survey aimed to gauge the current utilization of IUS, physician and patient perceptions and knowledge gap in IBD management across China.

METHODS

A structured questionnaire, developed by the China IUS Group, was distributed to 612 physicians (69.8% of gastroenterologists, 28.0% of radiologists) from 38 tertiary hospitals and 1,154 IBD patients.

RESULTS

A total of 91.7% of physicians expressed an intention to incorporate IUS into future clinical practice. However, while 69.3% of physicians reported IUS availability at their institutions, its utilization varied widely. Only 16.5% of physicians applied IUS to more than 75% of their IBD patients. Additionally, 27.1% of physicians reported receiving IUS training. Radiologists were more likely than gastroenterologists to consider IUS as a sensitive tool for evaluating treatment efficacy (48.3% vs. 19.4%, P< 0.001), intestinal wall fibrosis (33.7% vs. 27.4%, P< 0.001), intestinal fistula (27.9% vs. 11.2%, P< 0.001), abdominal abscesses (49.4% vs. 28.6%, P< 0.001), and disease severity (30.2% vs. 11.0%, P< 0.001). Patients expressed high satisfaction with IUS (76.1%), yet 39.2% had safety concerns.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite growing recognition of IUS in China, its wide utilization in IBD management requires further promotion. The notable disparity between gastroenterologists and radiologists regarding IUS underscores the need for targeted, specialty-specific training. Strengthening patient education efforts is essential to further enhance patient acceptance of IUS.