Systematic Information to Health-Care Professionals about Vaccination Guidelines Improves Adherence in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Anti-TNFα Therapy

OBJECTIVES: Implementation of guidelines for prevention of infectious diseases during anti-TNF alpha therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is important but difficult. We investigated whether systematic information to health-care professionals about these guidelines improves patients' adherence. METHODS: The study comprised three parts: (1) cross-sectional evaluation of baseline vaccination status in all IBD patients in anti-TNF alpha therapy (reference group; n = 130); (2) prospective interventional study, where health-care professionals received systematic oral and written information about vaccination guidelines at baseline and at 2-month intervals for 6 months, followed by reassessment of vaccination status (intervention group; n = 99); (3) cross-sectional evaluation of representative gastroenterologists' knowledge of guidelines (n = 53). Outcomes were assessed by validated questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients' adherence to vaccination guidelines increased significantly after a period of systematic information to health-care professionals. Hence, complete adherence increased from 5 to 26%, partial adherence from 38 to 56%, and complete non-adherence decreased from 57 to 18% (P < 0.0001). Adherence to all individual vaccinations except human papilloma virus increased significantly (P = 0.0021). Improvement was independent of disease type and anti-TNF alpha agent. At baseline, only 8% of physicians could identify all elements in the reference guideline. Additional barriers reported by physicians were forgetfulness (32%) and insufficient consultation time (26%). Patient-perceived barriers were costs of vaccinations (35%) and forgetfulness (25%). CONCLUSIONS: Gastroenterologists' limited knowledge of vaccination guidelines during anti-TNF alpha therapy can be overcome by systematic education of health-care professionals. This inexpensive and easily accessible intervention immediately results in markedly improved patient adherence. Remaining obstacles for adherence comprise high vaccination costs and forgetfulness.