Clinical research studies to be presented at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s 2010 professional conference examine health-related quality of life in pediatric population

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The management of children with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis has evolved significantly over the past decade. With a surge of pediatric research in the field, quality of life has become an important focus of study, as indicated by the number of related abstracts that will be presented at the 2010 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Clinical & Research Conference beginning tomorrow in Hollywood, Florida. More than 200 clinical and basic research abstracts have been accepted for presentation at the annual conference and many address health-related quality of life (HRQOL) issues, especially for adolescents and teens, who make up approximately 10% of the total IBD population. The large number of significant abstracts submitted to the conference this year outlining pediatric clinical studies prompted organizers to add a new conference session to address this important information.

two of the top abstracts address the prevalent challenges to HRQOL for adolescents with IBD of social isolation and patient adherence to medication schedules.

Clinical researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health will present information on a background study conducted to assist in the development of a special clinic for adolescent IBD patients that may be the next step in the evolution of care for children with IBD. Assessing the needs and habits of both patients and parents, researchers hope to use these results to develop a new empowering tool featuring web-based education and social media such as Facebook and Twitter to help minimize the social isolation for these adolescents and assist them with the transition from pediatric to adult gastroenterology and self-management of their disease.

Non-adherence will be addressed in a separate presentation by researchers at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and the Medical College of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin that suggests that assessing the broader issue of the extent of teen involvement in their own disease management may be of greater importance in identifying youth at risk for non-adherence than simply asking whether they are taking their medications as scheduled.

Additional aspects of HRQOL for pediatric patients with IBD will be addressed by researchers in poster and oral presentations on the role of anxiety in youth diagnosed with IBD, guided imagery treatment for abdominal discomfort in pediatric patients, barriers to medication compliance in teens, and parental over-protection and parental anxiety/depression.

Conference co-chair Richard P. MacDermott of Albany Medical College in New York emphasizes the significance of these quality of life studies. “The Advances conference is bringing together top researchers who have focused on critical areas known to impact the quality of life for IBD patients. The tools and knowledge we gain with studies such as these are critical for a physician or nurse in providing the best advice and treatment for our patients.”

in addition to the quality of life studies, oral presentations at the 2010 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases conference will focus on improved patient outcomes, the use of new and emerging therapies, as well as better understanding the basis of the processes that cause Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The conference begins Thursday evening, December 9 and runs through Sunday, December 12.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are inflammatory conditions of the large intestine and small intestine affecting over 1.4 million in the US alone.

About Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are painful, medically incurable illnesses that attack the digestive system. Crohn’s disease may attack anywhere from the mouth to the anus, while ulcerative colitis inflames only the large intestine (colon). Symptoms may include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fever and weight loss. Many patients require hospitalization and surgery. These illnesses can cause severe complications, including colon cancer in patients with long-term disease. some 1.4 million American adults and children suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, with as many as 150,000 under the age of 18. most people develop the diseases between the ages of 15 and 35.

About Advances in IBD/Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Clinical & Research Conference

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and Imedex have collaborated in the development of this meeting to meet the educational needs of all healthcare professionals who treat and manage patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. The conference will take place December 9-12, 2010 in Hollywood, Florida. Conference attendees will gain insight from expert faculty on cutting-edge research breakthroughs and advancements in IBD patient care. More than 1,500 healthcare professionals are expected to attend the conference – the largest and most important annual event in the United States dedicated to the state-of-the-art clinical management of patients with IBD combined with basic and clinical research.

About the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases. The Foundation ranks third among leading health non-profits in the percentage of expense devoted to research toward a cure, with more than 79 cents of every dollar the Foundation spends goes to mission-critical programs. The Foundation consistently meets the standards of organizations that monitor charities, including the better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (give.org) and the American Institute of Philanthropy (charitywatch.org). For more information, contact the Foundation at 800-932-2423 or visit ccfa.org.

About Imedex

Imedex is dedicated to improving patient care through the education of medical professionals. We develop high quality scientific activities that translate the latest research into clinically relevant information. our established relationships with leading investigators and researchers and some of the world’s most prestigious societies make our educational offerings the most effective in the industry. At Imedex, we believe that education is the best medicine®. imedex.com.