Educational interventions to enhance support for balancing work and treatment in inflammatory bowel disease patients.

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly impacts employment and work productivity, necessitating support for balancing work and treatment (SBWT). While SBWT systems have been formalized in Japan, awareness among healthcare professionals remains low. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program on SBWT for healthcare professionals in Hokkaido, Japan.

Methods: A 2-year questionnaire-based study was conducted across eight medical facilities in Hokkaido, Japan, from November 2022 to November 2024. The educational program, comprising lecture-based and self-directed learning formats, addressed six key components of SBWT. Pre- and post-program surveys assessed changes in awareness, interest, and behaviors related to SBWT.

Results: Pre-program awareness of SBWT was low (36.7% among doctors, 28.2% among medical staff). Post-program, awareness increased significantly to 81.3% and 58.3%, respectively (p < 0.01). Interest in SBWT improved across several categories for both groups, with greater gains among medical staff. Behavioral changes, such as detailed employment-related consultations with IBD patients and improved reporting practices from medical staff to doctors, were observed but not statistically significant. Lecture-based learning was more effective than self-directed methods, in increasing awareness, interest, and engagement with SBWT, particularly for medical staff.

Conclusions: The educational program successfully enhanced awareness and interest in SBWT, with lecture-based methods proving more effective for medical staff. These findings emphasize the need for tailored educational strategies based on baseline knowledge. Future initiatives should focus on sustaining knowledge acquisition, expanding programs nationwide, and assessing long-term impacts on healthcare practices and patient outcomes.