Errors in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients: "Errata" Study

Introduction: Errors are very common in daily clinical practice; however, they can be prevented. Our aim was to identify the most common errors in the outpatient management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Material and methods: Patients diagnosed with IBD, being treated at our IBD Unit and who were referred for a second opinion were consecutively enrolled. Data on the strategies implemented by their previous physicians were obtained. These strategies were compared with the currently recommended diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Results: Seventy-four IBD patients were enrolled. Prior to care in our Unit, screening for tobacco use had been performed in 50% of Crohn's disease patients, while smoking cessation counselling had been provided in 29%. At the time of IBD diagnosis, the hepatitis B virus immunization status had been investigated in 16% of the patients, the hepatitis C virus status in 15%, and the varicella status in 7%. Seven percent of the patients had been vaccinated against hepatitis B virus, and 3% against influenza, tetanus and pneumococcus. Sixty-seven percent of the patients with an indication for use of 5-aminosalicylic acid and 37% of those with an indication for immunosuppressants had received the indicated drug. Discussion: Errors in the outpatient management of IBD patients are very common and relevant. (C) 2019 Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.