Title

Allied Health Professional Support in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Survey from the Canadian Children Inflammatory Bowel Disease Network—A Joint Partnership of CIHR and the CH.I.L.D. Foundation

Authors

Wael El-Matary, University of Alexandria
Eric I. Benchimol, University of Ottawa
David Mack, University of Ottawa
Hien Q. Huynh, University of Alberta
Jeff Critch, Janeway Children’s Hospital
Anthony Otley, Dalhousie University
Colette Deslandres, CHU Sainte-Justine
Kevan Jacobson, BC Children’s Hospital
Jennifer deBruyn, University of Calgary
Matthew W. Carroll, University of Alberta
Eytan Wine, University of Alberta
Johan Van Limbergen, Dalhousie University
Mary Sherlock, McMaster Children’s Hospital
Kevin Bax, Western University
Sally Lawrence, BC Children’s Hospital
Ernest Seidman, Montreal Children’s Hospital
Robert Issenman, McMaster Children’s Hospital
Thomas D. Walters, University of Toronto
Peter Church, University of Toronto
Anne M. Griffiths, University of Toronto

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2017

Journal

Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Volume

2017

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/3676474

Abstract

Objectives. The current number of healthcare providers (HCP) caring for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) across Canadian tertiary-care centres is underinvestigated. The aim of this survey was to assess the number of healthcare providers (HCP) in ambulatory pediatric IBD care across Canadian tertiary-care centres.

Methods. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we examined available resources in academic pediatric centres within the Canadian Children IBD Network. The survey evaluated the number of HCP providing ambulatory care for children with IBD.

Results. All 12 tertiary pediatric gastroenterology centres participating in the network responded. Median full-time equivalent (FTE) of allied health professionals providing IBD care at each site was 1.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.6–1.0) nurse, 0.5 (IQR 0.2–0.8) dietitian, 0.3 (IQR 0.2–0.8) social worker, and 0.1 (IQR 0.02–0.3) clinical psychologists. The ratio of IBD patients to IBD physicians was 114 : 1 (range 31 : 1–537 : 1), patients to nurses/physician assistants 324 : 1 (range 150 : 1–900 : 1), dieticians 670 : 1 (range 250 : 1–4500 : 1), social workers 1558 : 1 (range 250 : 1–16000 : 1), and clinical psychologists 2910 : 1 (range 626 : 1–3200 : 1).

Conclusions. There was a wide variation in HCP support among Canadian centres. Future work will examine variation in care including patients’ outcomes and satisfaction across Canadian centres.