IBS is a chronic condition often associated with abdominal pain and discomfort and changes in bowel habits.
Challenge
It is thought to affect up to one in five people and is most common among women and those aged under 50. The symptoms associated with IBS can have a significant impact on a person’s daily life.
There is a lot of misinformation about IBS on the internet and it is important that people are able to access trusted evidenced-based advice.
Solution
After receiving a diagnosis within primary care, patients are referred to NHS dietitians who register them onto the service.
The Inhealthcare app helps patients to track their symptoms over time and identify any changes. They can request extra support from dietitians via the app as and when they need it.
It also provides patients with help and support at a time convenient to them and gives them access to trusted information at any time to help them understand and manage their condition.
If patients have not shown any signs of improvement after four weeks on the service, they can request further support from the dietitian and move onto the next stage in the management pathway.
As well as empowering individuals, the app also frees up clinicians’ time enabling them to spend time with people who need the most care.
The app has been funded by the Scottish Government’s Technology Enabled Care Programme and the Modernising Patient Pathways Programme
Outcomes
The new service reduces the time taken for people to start receiving specialist advice and support from weeks to days.