Effect of physician prescribed information to the inflammatory bowel disease patients on quality of life and disease relapse: a randomised control trial
In brief
Physician-prescribed info reduces 2-month IBD relapse from 87% to 12%
In a randomized trial of 160 ulcerative colitis and Crohn's patients, a structured information prescription lowered relapse rates to 12.5% at two months and 15% at four months, versus 87.5% and 42.5% with usual counseling, while boosting quality-of-life scores across all domains. Larger, longer-term studies are needed to confirm durability and generalizability.
- Journal
- Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA (Q1)
- Published
- 14 July 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Vahideh Zarea Gavgani, Parisa Akbari-Ekdelu, Mohammad Hossein Somi, Asghar Mohammadpoorasl, Mina Mahami-Oskouei
- PMID
- 42453321
- DOI
- 10.5195/jmla.2026.2252
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Gastroenterology (top studies of the week, 18 October 2026): Physician‑prescribed information improves IBD QoL and relapse
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD), including Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn&s Disease, are chronic and recurrent conditions that severely impact patients' quality of life and increase the risk of complications. Providing accurate and evidence-based health information is a non-pharmacological strategy that may improve disease outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of physician-prescribed information on patients' quality of life and disease Relapse. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 160 patients with IBD were randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention group received a structured information prescription (IP) developed by a trained medical librarian and approved by a physician, while the control group received routine oral explanations. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL) and Time to Relapse Questionnaire (TRQ) were used to assess quality of life and Relapse, respectively. Statistical analyses included t-tests, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests using Stata17 software. RESULTS: The Relapse rate in the intervention group was significantly lower than in the control group at both two months (12.5% vs. 87.5%, p=0.004) and four months (15% vs. 42.5%, P<0.001). The risk of Relapse in the control group was more than twice as high compared to the intervention group (Hazard ratio: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.6-2.8). The mean overall quality of life scores showed an improvement in the intervention group, while a decline was observed in the control group. A significant improvement was also indicated in all quality-of-life domains in the intervention group when compared to the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Physician-prescribed information interventions significantly enhance quality of life and reduce disease Relapse in IBD patients, offering a promising complementary approach in clinical care.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.