Inflammatory bowel disease training assessment of gastroenterology fellows in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Recent advancement and complexity in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has made it challenging for gastroenterology (GI) fellows to obtain competency and confidence in managing the complex IBD patient. We aimed to evaluate the confidence and training in IBD among GI fellows in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted an electronic, voluntary, and anonymous multicenter survey study of GI fellows in Saudi Arabia, from 1/5/2023 to 1/9/2023. The survey evaluated the fellows' confidence level in IBD management, methods of training received, and the amount of additional training desired in 20 core IBD domains. GI fellows' preferred learning method was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 65 GI fellows responded to the survey. In the entire cohort, >50% of fellows reported low confidence in 7 out of 20 IBD management domains, which included 71% in managing j-pouch disorders, 67% in managing the elderly/frail patient with IBD, 60% in managing extraintestinal manifestations, 57% in recommending preventative health services, and 54% in counseling patients on small molecules. Receiving >4 IBD didactic sessions per year was significantly associated with high confidence in managing j-pouch disorders (44.4% vs 13.3%, P = 0.05) and managing the elderly/frail patient with IBD (86.7% vs 50.0%, P = 0.03). Doing an external rotation to expand IBD knowledge was associated with high confidence in managing the elderly/frail patient with IBD (100% vs 26.7%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Many GI fellows lacked confidence and training in key domains of IBD management. Enhancing IBD exposure with didactics and external rotations improved fellows' confidence in specific domains.

Saudi consensus guidance for the management of inflammatory bowel disease during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: The management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in pregnant women is challenging and must be addressed on a patient-by-patient basis. Optimal patient management requires a multidisciplinary team and clear evidence-based recommendations that cater to this subset of patients. In this article, we provide concise guidelines and clinical care pathway for the management of IBD in pregnant women. Our recommendations were developed by a multidisciplinary working group that includes experts from the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Gastroenterology Association and the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacology. All recommendations are based on up-to-date information following an extensive literature review. A total of 23 evidence-based expert opinion recommendations for the management of IBD in pregnant women are herein provided.

Emerging Therapies for Ulcerative Colitis: Updates from Recent Clinical Trials.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disorder that affects the colon. The advent of advanced therapies such as biologic agents and small molecules has revolutionized the management of UC. Despite the expanding therapeutic armamentarium of advanced therapies to treat UC, the overall net remission rates and durability of currently available agents are relatively low. This highlights the need for further drug development and more innovative clinical trial design. There are currently multiple emerging agents in the pipeline for the management of UC. This includes agents with alternative routes of administration such as oral or subcutaneous tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or novel mechanisms of action such as toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist cobitolimod and phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor apremilast. In this review, we will highlight novel and emerging advanced therapies currently in the pipeline for the management of UC.

Saudi Arabia consensus guidance for the diagnosis and management of adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Optimal management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) relies on a clear understanding and tailoring evidence-based interventions by clinicians in partnership with patients. This article provides concise guidelines for the management of IBD in adults, based on the most up-to-date information at the time of writing and will be regularly updated. These guidelines were developed by the Saudi Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Saudi Gastroenterology Association and the Saudi Society of Clinical Pharmacy. After an extensive literature review, 78 evidence-and expert opinion-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in adults were proposed and further refined by a voting process. The consensus guidelines include the finally agreed on statements with their level of evidence covering different aspects of IBD diagnosis and treatment.

Human papillomavirus bowel colonization in inflammatory bowel disease: A comparative case control study.

Background and Aims: Although much of the research on the plausible environmental triggers for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has focused on bacterial pathogens, the relationship between bowel colonization with human papillomavirus (HPV) and IBD has not been previously explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between HPV ileocolonic colonization and IBD. Patients and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study involving consecutive patients with established IBD who were referred for endoscopic evaluation. During endoscopy, mucosal biopsies were obtained from the most inflamed colonic or ileal segments in cases and from the rectosigmoid region for controls. A hybrid capture assay was used to detect tissue HPV. The prevalence of HPV colonization was determined for cases and controls and was compared using Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 201 patients, including 104 patients with IBD and 97 non-IBD controls, were prospectively included. Females comprised 55.5% of the study participants (58% vs. 55.2% for controls, P = 0.94). Fifty-seven (54.8%) patients had ulcerative colitis, and 45 (43.2%) had Crohn's disease. The mean age was 43.2 +-18.2 years. Endoscopically active disease was documented in 56 cases (56%). HPV colonization was detected in four (4.1% subjects in controls vs. none in the cases, P = 0.05). Conclusions: There was no evidence of HPV ileocolonic colonization in this cohort of patients with IBD, regardless of disease activity. HPV colonization does not appear to be linked to IBD diagnosis or disease severity.

Mucosal Healing in Crohn's Disease: Bull's Eye or Bust? The "Relative" Con Position.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease is a progressive inflammatory bowel disease. Persistent untreated inflammation can cumulatively result in bowel damage in the form of strictures, fistulas, and fibrosis, which can ultimately result in the need for major abdominal surgery. Mucosal healing has emerged as an attractive, yet ambitious goal in the hope of preventing long-term complications. SUMMARY: Clinical remission is an inadequate measure of disease activity. Noninvasive markers such as fecal calprotectin, CRP, or small bowel ultrasound are useful adjunct tools. However, endoscopic assessment remains the cornerstone in building a treatment plan. Achieving complete mucosal healing has proved to be an elusive goal even in the ideal setting of a clinical trial. KEY MESSAGES: Aiming for complete mucosal healing in all patients may result in overuse of medications, higher costs, and potential side effects of aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. More practical goals such as relative or partial healing, for example, 50% improvement in inflammation and reduction in size of ulcers, ought to be considered, particularly in difficult-to-treat populations.

Methotrexate in inflammatory bowel disease: A primer for gastroenterologists.

Methotrexate is an antineoplastic agent that is also used at lower doses for anti-inflammatory properties. Along with thiopurines (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine), it has historically been an important part of pharmacological treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Despite an increase in therapeutic options, these immunomodulators continue to play important roles in the management of inflammatory bowel disease, used either as a monotherapy in mild to moderate cases or in combination with monoclonal antibodies to prevent immunogenicity and maintain efficacy. In light of data linking the use of thiopurines with the risk of malignancies, methotrexate has regained attention as a potential alternative. In this article, we review data on the pharmacology, safety, and efficacy of methotrexate and discuss options for the positioning of methotrexate alone, or in combination, in therapeutic algorithms for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Undisclosed payments by pharmaceutical manufacturers to authors of inflammatory bowel disease guidelines in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Payments from pharmaceutical drug manufacturers to authors of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) may have an impact on their recommendations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of financial conflict of interest (FCOI) declarations among authors of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) guidelines. METHODS: We collected data on industry payments to authors of IBD guidelines published by the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). We reported the accuracy of the authors' declarations by comparing their statements in the FCOI section of the guidelines with the data reported on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website (CMS-OP). We also investigated the adherence of IBD guidelines to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) criteria for trustworthy guidelines. RESULTS: A total of eight clinical practice guidelines and 35 individual authors were included. Four authors had no profile identified at CMS-OP. The total payment to all included authors was $10,575,843.06, with a mean payment of $314,242.38 per author. A total of 28/35 authors (80%) received payment from pharmaceutical companies, 23/35 (65.7%) received $10,000 or more, 15/35 (42.8%) received $100,000 or more and 3/35 (8.57%) received $1,000,000 or more. Total discrepancies identified while comparing the authors' declaration of their FCOI and CMS-OP were 28: ACG had 12/14 (85.7%), AGA had 7/12 (53.8%) and ASGE had 9/10 (90%) discrepancies. None of the guidelines met all NAM criteria and 4/8 (50%) guidelines met none. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies exist between authors' declarations in the FOCI section and data on CMS-OP. Poor compliance with the NAM criteria was prevalent among authors of IBD guidelines. More transparency in reporting and monitoring is needed.

Clinical characteristics, natural history, and outcomes of Crohn's-related intra-abdominal collections.

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal collections in the form of abscesses or matted bowel loops, called phlegmons, might occur in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The clinical characteristics and management of such conditions are not well described. We aim to characterize CD-related intra-abdominal collections clinically, and identify predictors of need for surgical interventions and the time to surgery. METHODS: We utilized the Saudi Inflammatory Bowel Disease Information System (IBDIS) database to identify all patients treated for radiologically proven intra-abdominal abscesses or phlegmons since inception. Demographics, clinical data, clinical course, and treatment outcomes were recorded. Logistic regression analysis and survival analysis were used to identify predictors of surgical resection and differences in time to surgery between patient subgroups, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 734 patients with a diagnosis of CD were screened and 75 patients were identified. The mean age was 25.6 ± 9.9 years and 51% were males. Nearly 60% of patients had abscesses larger than 3 cm while 13% had smaller abscesses and 36% had phlegmons. On presentation, the most commonly reported symptom was abdominal pain (99%) followed by weight loss (27%). About 89% of patients were treated with antibiotics during hospitalization for an average of 2.7 weeks. Steroids were prescribed for 52% of patients and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) antagonists for 17%. Surgical resection was required for 33 patients (44% of the cohort) while 51% were managed with antibiotics and/or percutaneous drainage. The most common surgical intervention was ileocecal resection (45%). Although patients who underwent follow-up imaging were more likely to require early surgical intervention (P = 0.04), no statistically significant predictor of surgery could be identified from this cohort. Time to surgery varied numerically according to abscess size (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.62-2.27, P = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of patients with CD-related intra-abdominal collections underwent surgical resection in this cohort, no obvious predictors of surgical intervention could be identified. The decision to perform early surgery appeared to be influenced by the findings observed on cross-sectional imaging during the follow-up of these collections.

Barriers to research productivity among gastroenterologists and hepatologists in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Clinical research is essential for the advancement of medical knowledge and evidence-based medical practice. In this study, we aimed to identify barriers that limit research productivity among gastroenterologists in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a national online survey targeting gastroenterologists in Saudi Arabia. Participants were asked about the patterns of their practice, their prior research activities, and potential barriers to research productivity. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the association between different factors and research productivity. RESULTS: A total of 85 gastroenterologists completed the survey. Respondents were predominantly male physicians (90.6%) and 40% of them belonged to the age group of 40-49 years. About 85.9% had at least one prior research participation of any type. Around 67.1% of the respondents had been a primary investigator at least once in the last 5 years, while only 23.5% had been a primary investigator at a minimum average rate of once a year. Multiple barriers to research productivity were identified: insufficient research time (78.8%), lack of funding and compensation (77.6%), lack of a statistician (68.2%), insufficient research training (64.7%), lack of connection (60%), lack of technical support (57.6%), and lack of interest (31%). On univariate analysis, insufficient research time and lack of funding and compensation were significantly associated with no research participation (P <0.01 and 0.03, respectively). On multivariate analysis, lack of funding and compensation was independently associated with no research participation (adjusted OR 15.32;95% C.I 2.66, 121.58, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Barriers to research productivity are highly prevalent among gastroenterologists in Saudi Arabia. Insufficient research time and lack of funding and compensation are the most common. Interventions are needed to promote research activities.

The Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Among Board-Certified Medical Doctors In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders. A pooled analysis showed a global prevalence of 11.2%. Few studies looked at the prevalence of IBS in health care providers. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of IBS among board-certified physicians and surgeons. METHODS: Board-certified physicians and surgeons in Saudi Arabia were invited to complete a web-based survey. It included questions regarding participant demographics, specialty, practice type and hours worked per week. The Rome IV-validated questionnaire was used to identify subjects with IBS. The primary outcome of the study was the prevalence of IBS among physicians. Secondary outcomes included exploring the effect on IBS prevalence of age, gender, marital status, work hours, specialty, gastroenterology subspecialty and working in a public versus private hospital. RESULTS: The final analysis included 594 subjects, with 419 males and a median age of 41. The vast majority (86%) were married. Nearly 90% worked in a public hospital exclusively, and the median number of hours worked per week was 48. The overall prevalence of IBS was 16.3%. In a binary logistic regression model, age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.931, P < 0.0001), gender (OR = 0.504, P = 0.003) and work hours (OR = 2.397, P < 0.0001) significantly predicted the presence of IBS. Marital status and specialty did not predict IBS prevalence. DISCUSSION: This cross-sectional study shows that the prevalence of IBS among physicians in Saudi Arabia to be 16.3%. IBS was more common in females, those who worked longer hours and younger physicians. There was no association between practicing certain specialties and IBS. However, the lack of difference in our cohort may be attributed to the relatively small sample size from each specialty.

Development and validation of metric-based-training to proficiency simulation curriculum for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy using a novel assessment checklist.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: : This study aimed to design a structured simulation training curriculum for upper endoscopy and validate a new assessment checklist. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A proficiency-based progression stepwise curriculum was developed consisting of didactic, technical and non-technical components using a virtual reality simulator (VRS). It focused on: scope navigation, anatomical landmarks identification, mucosal inspection, retro-flexion, pathology identification, and targeting biopsy. A total of 5 experienced and 10 novice endoscopists were recruited. All participants performed each of the selected modules twice, and mean and median performance were compared between the two groups. Novices pre-set level of proficiency was set as 2 standard deviations below the mean of experts. Performance was assessed using multiple-choice questions for knowledge, while validated simulator parameters incorporated into a novel checklist; Simulation Endoscopic Skill Assessment Score (SESAS) were used for technical skills. RESULTS: : The following VRS outcome measures have shown expert vs novice baseline discriminative ability: total procedure time, number of attempts for esophageal intubation and time in red-out. All novice trainees achieved the preset level of proficiency by the end of training. There were no statistically significant differences between experts' and trainees' rate of complications, landmarks identification and patient discomfort. SESAS checklist showed high degree of agreement with the VRS metrices (kappa = 0.83) and the previously validated direct observation of procedural skills tool (kappa = 0.90). CONCLUSION: : The Fundamentals of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy simulation training curriculum and its SESAS global assessment tool have been primarily validated and can serve as a valuable addition to the gastroenterology fellowship programs. Follow up study of trainee performance in workplaces is recommended for consequences validation.

A cross-sectional survey on the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inflammatory bowel disease patients in Saudi Arabia.

Background/Aims: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant disruption to patients with chronic illnesses. We explored the emotional state, perception, and concerns of Saudi patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the crisis. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey from 30 March to 5 April, 2020 using a pre-designed questionnaire distributed through social media platforms to IBD patients. The five-part questionnaire included an assessment of psychological wellbeing using a previously validated Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which includes domains for anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). A logistic regression analysis was used to uncover possible associations between patient characteristics and anxiety and depression. Results: The data from 1156 IBD patients were analyzed. Normal, borderline, and HADS-A scores consistent with a diagnosis of anxiety were reported by 423 (36.6%), 174 (15.1%), and 559 (48.4%) patients, respectively. However, 635 (69%) patients had normal scores and 273 (30.1%) had borderline HADS-D scores; no patients reported scores consistent with depression. Based on a multiple logistic regression analysis, patients educated till a high school diploma (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 0.09-6.05, P = 0.03) and that had indeterminate colitis (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.27-3.89, P = 0.005) were more likely to express anxiety. Conclusions: Many patients expressed symptoms of anxiety, although not depression. Female patients, patients educated till a high school diploma, and those with indeterminate colitis were more likely to have anxiety. IBD patients require greater attention during a pandemic to avoid adverse disease-related outcomes.