The Canadian IBD Network for Research and Growth in Quality Improvement developed the list.
Here are the five:
1. Avoid prescribing steroids for maintenance therapy
2. Providers should not prescribe opioids long-term to treat a patient’s abdominal pain
3. For patients with acute or several ulcerative colitis, do not extend the course of intravenous corticosteroids if there isn’t a clinical response
4. Avoid starting or escalating long-term medical therapies to manage IBD-based only on symptoms.
5. Refrain from utilizing abdominal computed tomography scans when evaluating IBD in acute care settings. Using these scans is advisable if that provider suspects a complication or non-IBD etiology for abdominal symptoms.
President and CEO of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada Mina Mawani said in a release, “This list provides information and guidance around five key priority areas that patients should be aware of during discussions with their doctors, and they should feel empowered to raise questions if they feel it necessary.”
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