Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of infections, bone fractures and skin cancers. Preventive health educational messages delivered to patients may reduce the risks of these complications. With patient input, we developed video messages and tested their impact compared to text-based messages. 1056 IBD Partners participants received either video or text-based health reminder messages. The study investigated reminder messages for influenza vaccine, pneumonia vaccine, skin cancer screening, bone health and shingles vaccine. This study found that video and text-based messages for all five topics had a similar impact on intent to get needed care. For the main outcome of influenza vaccine, 57% had received a flu vaccine prior to the preventive health messages, while 73% reported they intended to get a flu vaccine after the intervention. Further studies are measuring whether people followed up to get the needed care.



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Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, may be more likely to develop weak bones, infections like influenza and tuberculosis and certain cancers of the skin, cervix and colon, depending on the type of medications they use. Fortunately, there are simple activities that can prevent these from occurring. In a survey of over 7000 patients with IBD, only about half had a bone density scan or took calcium or vitamin D supplements to promote bone health. Only 40% reported having a skin exam and 16% reported always wearing sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. Less than two thirds had an influenza (flu) vaccine. These results show that not enough patients are doing simple activities to prevent weak bones, infections and cancers that may be related to IBD.