A PATIENT KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONNAIRE IN INFLAMMATORY BOWEL-DISEASE

A multiple choice knowledge questionnaire was developed for patients w ith inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Initially, 20 questionnaires wer e piloted, and then questions of poor discriminatory ability (> 75% pa tients giving a correct response) were eliminated. A second pilot stud y proved the internal consistency (coefficient alpha = 0.84) and the s tability of the questionnaire using a test-retest method (Spearman R = 0.86, p = 0.002). The questionnaire was then completed by 60 randomly selected patients attending colitis clinic. The mean score was 13 of a total of 36 (range 2-29). Eighty percent of patients wished to know more about their disease. Knowledge score was higher in patients who w ere members of the National Association of Crohn's Disease and Colitis (NACC) (p < 0.005) and in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) rather t han ulcerative colitis (UC) (p < 0.005). Knowledge score correlated wi th the number of years spent in full-time education (R = 0.48, p < 0.0 01) and inversely with age (R = -0.33, p < 0.02) but did not correlate with disease duration. The study demonstrated some misunderstandings about IBD although most patients would have liked more information. Th e questionnaire could be used as a tool to evaluate patient education programs.