Treat-to-Target Approach in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Role of Advanced Practice Providers

Abstract

Updated therapeutic guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease call for effective disease assessment, early intervention, and personalized patient care using a treat-to-target (T2T) approach. The ongoing, intensive monitoring of a T2T strategy is best facilitated by a multidisciplinary team, but the increased demand on health care systems impedes implementation. Therefore, advanced practice providers have a growing role in bridging the gap between T2T recommendations and clinical practice. Advanced practice providers can effectively facilitate patient-care team communication, deliver patient education, perform in-clinic and remote monitoring of symptoms and treatment response, and assist patients with self-management.

Unlocking the Value of Anti-TNF Biosimilars: Reducing Disease Burden and Improving Outcomes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Narrative Review

“…The principle of treat-to-target (T2T) has been successful in different therapeutic areas including hypertension [79] and diabetes [80], and is aimed at achieving a prompt and effective control of the disease process that is then maintained over time [70,81]. Current guidelines and recommendations for IMIDs also recommend a treat-to-target approach [69,[82][83][84]. The value of such an approach is better patient outcomes in both the short and long term, which in addition to remission includes reductions in comorbidities and cardiovascular risk, as well as improvements in quality of life and productivity [81,[85][86][87][88][89][90].…”

Gastroenterology nurse prescribing in China: A Delphi method

“…In the United States, advanced practice providers (APPs)—including nurse practitioners (NPs) and midwives—can offer patients with support for evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, prescriptions and health education. This is important in targeted therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Drescher et al., 2019). In Ohio, qualified nurses can prescribe some of these drugs—such as mesalazine, osalazine sodium and sulfasalazine.…”

Clinical communication in inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of the study of clinician–patient dialogue to inform research and practice

“…5 8 As a result, discourses around communication and the role of the patient as a key stakeholder in decision making have gained recognition in IBD research. 8 Currently, studies that investigate communication between IBD clinicians and patients through investigation of the 'clinician-patient interface' 9 -that is, projects that investigate interactions between patients and clinicians, rather than patients' perceptions of clinical communication-are less common. The current review ascertains the existing knowledge in this area in order to inform the field, identify areas that require further investigation, and position this literature within current IBD care practice and research.…”

“… 5 8 As a result, discourses around communication and the role of the patient as a key stakeholder in decision making have gained recognition in IBD research. 8 …”