Peer support interventions for young adults with inflammatory bowel diseases

Abstract

The “Roundtable on Young Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)” is a year-long learning community organized by the Crohn’s and Colitis Young Adults Network with monthly discussions between healthcare professionals, patients, and community-based partners. The group aims to improve outcomes for the young adult IBD patient population. The roundtable discussion highlighted in this article centered on the critical importance of peer support for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with IBD. The discussion underscored the need for increased research in peer support, the need to further consider peer support as an intervention, and the value of multi-stakeholder, peer-led collaboration in reducing isolation for young adults with IBD. Additionally, the group identified areas of opportunity, such as developing more appropriate metrics and scales to prove the inherent value of peer support for young adults with IBD.