French experience with telemedicine in inflammatory bowel disease: a patients and physicians survey.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The use of telemedicine dramatically increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected patients and physicians experience on telemedicine in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: We conducted a nationwide survey between September 2020 and January 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to participants through mailing lists of the national patients' association and IBD expert groups. RESULTS: Overall, 300 patients and 110 gastroenterologists filled out the survey. On a 10 points scale of satisfaction with telemedicine, 60% of patients noted a score ≥8 and 52.7% of physicians ≥7. Patients and gastroenterologists felt that the duration of teleconsultations appeared to be shorter than in-person visits in 57.5 and 55.1% of cases, respectively. All participants agreed that telemedicine is appropriate in dedicated situations and not for flare-up consultations. For 55.1% of patients, quality of care was the same via telemedicine, whereas 51.4% of gastroenterologists believed they managed less well their patients. Lack of clinical examination being pointed out as the main limitation of telemedicine. Three-quarters of patients and gastroenterologists would agree to use telemedicine more often in the future. CONCLUSION: Patients and gastroenterologists were satisfied with telemedicine and would be willing to use it in the future. However, telemedicine does not replace in-person visits and should be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and COVID-19 Vaccination: A Patients' Survey.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination against COVID-19 is a major public health challenge, including the community of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Vaccination coverage is suboptimal in inflammatory bowel disease population. It is of paramount importance to ensure an effective and rapid vaccination program with the adherence of the largest number of well-informed patients. AIMS: We assessed the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among inflammatory bowel disease patients. METHODS: We performed a survey as part of routine practice, between January 8th and February 22nd, 2021. All consecutive adult patients followed at Nancy University Hospital for inflammatory bowel disease were included. Patients completed a self-administered, structured, paper-based questionnaire. Demographic data, medical history, knowledge, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination were collected. RESULTS: Among the 104 patients who responded to the survey, 57 patients (54.8%) had intent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine efficacy, social responsibility, herd immunity, and desire to return to normal life were associated with self-reported willingness to receive a vaccine (20.2%, 20.2%, 11.5%, and 15.4%, respectively). Unknown long-term safety, risk of adverse reaction to vaccine and concern that the vaccine is being developed too quickly were the most commonly reported reasons for non-uptake (27.9%, 15.4%, and 12.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Half of the patients with inflammatory bowel disease would like to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. This rate is similar to that reported in the French general population. Despite some concerns, patients with inflammatory bowel disease understood the necessity to be vaccinated against COVID-19.