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CHOOSE SURVEY
Identifying gaps and promoting shared decision-making
Our mission is to improve the treatment experience for people with inflammatory bowel disease by promoting shared decision-making. We conduct research to understand how doctors and patients make treatment choices, identify gaps in expectations, and work towards better communication and care strategies.
The complexity of treatment decisions
In recent years, many new treatments have emerged for inflammatory bowel disease, offering better ways to control symptoms and prevent complications. However, choosing the right treatment is still difficult because every patient is different, past treatments can affect choices, there aren’t enough comparison studies, and inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic disease. Each treatment also comes with risks, such as side effects and long-term health concerns.
Prof. Dr. med. Emanuel Burri
Project Leader
«Doctors and patients need to work together when choosing a treatment. This is called shared decision-making, where both medical knowledge and patient preferences are considered.»
Dr. med. Anouk Lehman
Local Principal Investigator
«Patients have different levels of risk tolerance and lifestyle needs, but there isn’t much research on how patients weigh the pros and cons of different treatments.»
Balancing treatment benefits and risks
Clinical experts in inflammatory bowel disease have recommended a set of treatment goals that help patients have better long-term outcomes. However, reaching these goals isn’t always easy. Doctors need to balance strong treatments against possible risks like infections or even rare cases of cancer. Meanwhile, patients must consider the risks and how the treatment affects their daily life.
Challenges for patients and doctors
One challenge is that doctors and patients may have different priorities. Doctors usually focus on long-term disease control, while patients often care more about immediate symptom relief. This difference in focus can make it harder to agree on the best treatment plan.
Another challenge is how patients and doctors view risks. Some treatments for inflammatory bowel disease work very well but come with risks, such as a higher chance of infections or, in rare cases, cancer. Doctors may be more willing to accept these risks if it means better long-term results, but patients often worry more about side effects, especially if they are not clearly explained.
Aside from personal preferences, other factors like medication availability, costs, and access to specialists can also impact treatment decisions.