Open access follow up for inflammatory bowel disease: pragmatic randomisedtrial and cost effectiveness study

Objective To evaluate whether follow up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease is better through open access than by routine booked appointments. Design Pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Setting Two district general hospitals in Swansea and Neath, Wales. Participants 180 adults (78 with Crohn's disease, 77 ulcerative or indeterm inate colitis, 25 ulcerative or idiopathic proctitis) recruited from outpat ient clinics during October 1995 to November 1996. Intervention Open access follow up according to patient need. Main outcome measures Generic (SF-36) and disease specific (UK inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire UKIBDQ) quality of Life, number of primary and secondary care contacts, total resource use, and views of patients and gen eral practitioners. Results There were no differences in generic or disease specific quality of life, Open access patients had fewer day visits (0.27 v 0.42, P < 0.05) an d fewer outpatient visits (4.12 v 4.64, P < 0.01), but some patients had di fficulty obtaining an urgent appointment There were no significant differen ces in specific investigations undertaken, inpatient days, general practiti oner surgery or home visits, drugs prescribed, or total patient borne costs , Mean total cost in secondary care was lower for open access patients (P < 0.05), but when primary care and patient bome costs were added there were no significant differences in total costs to the NHS or to society, General practitioners and patients preferred open access. Conclusions Open access follow up delivers the same quality of care as rout ine outpatient care and is preferred by patients and general practitioners. It uses fewer resources in secondary care but total resource use is simila r. Better methods of ensuring urgent access to outpatient clinics are neede d.