Understanding people's views on early surgery for ileocaecal Crohn's

What this research is looking at

Ileocaecal Crohn’s is a type of Crohn’s where inflammation affects the last part of the small bowel and the beginning of the large bowel. It is one of the most common forms of Crohn’s Disease. People with ileocaecal Crohn’s are usually given steroids to get their symptoms under control. This is normally followed by immunosuppressants or biologics, or both, to keep their symptoms under control. Sometimes they will need to try several different medicines before finding one that works for them. And sometimes medicines do not work or stop working. At this stage an operation to remove part of the bowel may be considered.

Recent evidence shows that having surgery for ileocaecal Crohn’s earlier may reduce the need for further surgery. It may also reduce the need to take more biologic medicines. But surgery is not usually discussed as an alternative to medical treatment. It is often considered a “last resort”.

The researchers plan to look at the reasons why surgery is not considered sooner for many people with ileocaecal Crohn’s. They will do this in three different ways.

1. They will interview 25 to 30 people with ileocaecal Crohn’s to better understand their views on early surgery. They will ask about what factors might affect people’s choice when they are deciding whether to have surgery.
2. They will give a questionnaire to at least 100 people with ileocaecal Crohn’s. This will ask about how they would choose between medicines and surgery in different situations. The researchers will look at how people weigh up the advantages and disadvantages when making a choice between medicines and surgery.
3. They will ask people who have already had surgery for ileocaecal Crohn’s for their views on timing of their surgery.

You can find out more about the study on twitter @EBRIC_Study

What the researchers think this could mean for people with Crohn's

The researchers hope to get a better understanding of people's views on having surgery for ileocaecal Crohn's. They hope that this might mean earlier involvement of surgeons in the care of people with Crohn’s. This will help people with Crohn’s to understand their treatment options better. They will then be able to make informed choices about which treatment is right for them.

Who is leading this research: Ms Nilofer Husnoo, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Our funding: £69,629

Duration: 29 months

Official title of application: Early bowel resection for terminal ileal Crohn's disease: exploring patients' perspectives and barriers to implementation