{
  "abstract": "Treatment non-adherence in adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is as high as 93%. 1 Non-adherence to treatment has significant clinical consequences. Targeting this problem, we co-developed A Self-led Self-management Intervention Supporting Teens with IBD (ASSIST-IBD). ASSIST-IBD is a novel, user-centred and theory-driven digital intervention that supports young people (aged 13–17) with IBD to adhere to their treatment plan. Co-designed with adolescents who live with IBD, ASSIST-IBD consists of ten interactive modules aimed to increase young people’s confidence to adhere to their treatment plan, support resilience to overcome adherence barriers, foster the development of health communication skills and generate optimism about the future. Within each module young people are supported to develop user-centred action plans to overcome their individual adherence challenges. These plans and corresponding behaviour change strategies are retained within the intervention modules, providing a personalised approach. A parent version of the intervention was also developed to support incremental transfer of responsibility for treatment adherence to young people themselves, as part of their transition to adulthood and adult services.To assess the feasibility of ASSIST-IBD, young people with IBD (aged 13–17) who self-reported as being ≤80% adherent, and their parents, used the intervention for up to 12-weeks. Young people were able to complete modules in any order, based on their self-assessed adherence support needs. One-week post-intervention, young people and parents were invited to a qualitative interview to explore their experiences of using ASSIST-IBD, as well as their willingness to be randomised in a future Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and acceptability of more objective measures of treatment adherence (e.g., pill counts, biomarkers). Quantitative data was collected from the ASSIST-IBD digital platform on intervention engagement (e.g., number of logins, clicks on components, completeness of activities). Quantitative estimates of key parameters for a definitive RCT were also obtained (e.g., number of recruited participants; reasons for non-participation and ineligibility; retention and follow-up rates; reasons for early withdrawal; completeness and utility of outcome measures). Pre and post intervention measures examined changes in treatment adherence, quality of life and wellbeing. Two Public and Patient Involvements and Engagement groups of young people and parents co-analysed the study’s data, allowing for their experiences and expertise to enrich the data analysis process.Within post-intervention interviews, young people and parents reported a noticeable increase in young people’s health self-efficacy, health communication and autonomous treatment adherence behaviours. ASSIST-IBD modules were generally rated favourably by young people, who believed the youth-led intervention content contributed to their engagement and behaviour change success.The current research provides insight into the feasibility of ASSIST-IBD, and ways in which the intervention can be strengthened. This research is a valuable step in preparing for a definitive RCT to assess the effectiveness of ASSIST-IBD for young people with IBD.Reference Spekhorst LM, Hummel TZ, Benninga MA, van Rheenen PF, Kindermann A. Adherence to oral maintenance treatment in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016;62(2):264–270.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston University, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Cassandra Screti"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Aston University College of Health and Life Sciences, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Lou Atkinson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston University, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Rachel Shaw"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Rafeeq Muhammed"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Institute of Health and Neurodevelopment, Aston University, Birmingham, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Gemma Heath"
    }
  ],
  "title": "OC1 Assessing the feasibility of a digital behavioural intervention to support treatment adherence in young people (aged 13–17) with inflammatory bowel disease",
  "uid": "405bfe37-e004-5844-ae92-3295130e9a93"
}