Course Welcome

As part of this CME activity, we will detail a 3-phase approach to studying and ultimately addressing this complex issue of personalizing biologic management in IBD. In Module 1, we will review findings from a recent analysis of perceptions about the risks and benefits of biologic therapies in IBD as posted by patients on social media platforms. It turns out that patients can be very vocal and honest on social media, and studying what they say offers important insights for clinicians. Because the frank discussions among patients on social media are often not carried into the exam room, it can be helpful for clinicians to understand what patients discuss in the free-range world of social media.

In Module 2, we will describe results from a conjoint analysis – a technique that determines how respondents make complex decisions under conditions of uncertainly – that examined how patients with IBD navigate among available biologics. The results of the conjoint analysis were used to create a freely-available online patient decision aid called IBD&me that generates a unique “Personalized Report” for each patient to assist in shared decision-making with their doctor. In Module 3, you will learn more about IBD&me and have the opportunity to go through the website from the perspective of a patient with IBD.

When you’re done with the CME activity, you will understand more about social media as a source of patient insights, learn about conjoint analysis and how it helps characterize patients, and recognize how this method can power a decision tool to help patients and their doctors make smarter decisions together.