One in three Australians with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) left their medical consultations with misunderstandings about what was discussed, posing risks to their safety and the management of their condition, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU).
IBD includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, both lifelong inflammatory diseases affecting the intestines. IBD occurs when the body's natural defence system mistakenly attacks healthy bowel cells.
Australia has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world. 17,6000 Australians were estimated to be affected by IBD in 2019. This number is expected to rise to 290,000 Australians by 2030 (over 1 per cent of the population).
Study lead author, Dr Neda Karimi from the ANU Institute for Communication in Health Care, said the research provides strong evidence that simple changes in how doctors and patients talk to each other can have a big impact.
"There is complexity in IBD treatment, and patients often don't understand their condition and its treatments. Similarly, doctors aren't getting the full picture of their patients' issues and concerns," she said.
