A transition clinic model for inflammatory bowel disease between two tertiary care centers: outcomes and predictive factors

F. Scaldaferri, G. Angelino, E.F. Romeo, L.R. Lopetuso, O. Ricca, S. Filoni, E. Borrelli, F. Torroni, S. Faraci, F. Rea, V. Giorgio, M. Pizzoferrato, A. Poscia, D. Ferrarese, G. Camardese, M. Neri, A. Armuzzi, L. Dall’Oglio, A. Gasbarrini, P. De Angelis

Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. francoscaldaferri@gmail.com

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• Gastroenterology

OBJECTIVE: Few models of transition have been proposed for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study is to evaluate the feasibility of a transition model and the predictive factors for success/failure.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with low activity or remission IBD were enrolled. Proposed model: three meetings every four-six weeks: the first one in the pediatric center (Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital); the second one, in the adult center (Foundation Polyclinic University A. Gemelli), with pediatric gastroenterologists; the last one, in the adult center, with adult gastroenterologists only. Questionnaires included anxiety and depression clinical scale, self-efficacy, quality of life, visual-analogic scale (VAS). Transition was considered successful if the three steps were completed.
RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled (range 18-25 years; M/F: 12/8; Ulcerative Colitis/Crohn’s Disease 10/10); eight accepted the transition program, four delayed the process and eight refused. Patients who completed transition generated higher scores on the resilience scale, better scores on well-being perception, and had lower anxiety scores. Patients who failed transition were mostly women. The perceived utility of the transition program was scored 7.3 on a VAS scale.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed transition program seems to be feasible. Psychological scores may help in selecting patients and predicting outcomes.

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