Research on medication adherence in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has demonstrated nonadherence rates ranging from 50-88 percent across medications. These data are alarming given that 1) the risk of relapse in IBD is 5.5 times greater in nonadherent patients than in adherent patients, 2) the annual costs of health care in nonadherent IBD patients are 12.5 percent higher, and 3) the estimated annual cost of nonadherence in US health care is $100-300 billion. Factors related to poor adherence include deficits in knowledge about IBD and medications used for treatment, organizational barriers, and behavioral problems in adolescents and/or their families. Thus, nonadherence is a complex and significant health care issue in IBD, requiring effective multicomponent behavioral intervention to improve treatment outcomes. Our current treatment outcome studies demonstrate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of family based behavioral intervention for nonadherence. This intervention is viewed favorably by patients and families, and retention is high. Individually-tailored behavioral treatments are advantageous because of their ability to analyze and target specific behaviors that functionally maintain nonadherence, which vary across patients. However, only a limited subgroup of patients is able to receive this type of treatment due to a lack of available trained providers and/or distance between patient homes and their treatment facility, making it prohibitive to attend the necessary weekly treatment sessions. Telehealth delivery of behavioral intervention has been used successfully in pediatric populations, but has not targeted treatment adherence promotion. Determining the most optimal method of treatment delivery to the most patients who would benefit from it is a critical next step in this line of research. Thus, the proposed study aims to test, via a randomized controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of a novel telehealth behavioral treatment (TBT) protocol to improve medication adherence, disease severity, health-related quality of life, and health care utilization in children and adolescents with IBD. Participants in the TBT condition will be compared to those in an education only (EO) condition. In addition to using a novel telehealth approach to delivery of an individually-tailored behavioral treatment for nonadherence in underserved IBD patients, this study will target a clinically relevant sample of patients who demonstrate substantial nonadherence that might affect health outcomes. The proposed study may have a significant impact on public health by providing an evidence base for individually-tailored behavioral treatment of nonadherence delivered in a manner that reduces health care disparities for families that have limited access to services. One hundred ninety-four patients (11-18 years of age) and their parents will be enrolled in the study. Given the prevalence of nonadherence in IBD and its health and economic impact, this study is timely and important, as it has the potential to optimize behavioral treatment of nonadherence, positively impact IBD health outcomes, and serve as a model for adherence intervention in other pediatric populations.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative A large number of adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have significant difficulty managing their illness effectively. Factors that contribute to poor self-management and health outcomes include deficits in knowledge about IBD and medications used for treatment, organizational barriers, and behavioral problems in adolescents and/or their families. This study proposes an innovative individually-tailored behavioral treatment for nonadherence in IBD using a telehealth delivery system to reach underserved patients and improve treatment self-management, disease severity, and health-related quality of life in pediatric IBD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD067174-01A1
Application #
8180460
Study Section
Behavioral Medicine, Interventions and Outcomes Study Section (BMIO)
Program Officer
Haverkos, Lynne
Project Start
2011-08-01
Project End
2016-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$625,516
Indirect Cost
Name
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
071284913
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45229
McGrady, Meghan E; Hommel, Kevin A (2016) Targeting Health Behaviors to Reduce Health Care Costs in Pediatric Psychology: Descriptive Review and Recommendations. J Pediatr Psychol 41:835-48
Hommel, Kevin A; Gray, Wendy N; Hente, Elizabeth et al. (2015) The Telehealth Enhancement of Adherence to Medication (TEAM) in pediatric IBD trial: Design and methodology. Contemp Clin Trials 43:105-13
Wu, Yelena P; Hommel, Kevin A (2014) Using technology to assess and promote adherence to medical regimens in pediatric chronic illness. J Pediatr 164:922-7
Ryan, Jamie L; Mellon, Michael W; Junger, Katherine W F et al. (2013) The clinical utility of health-related quality of life screening in a pediatric inflammatory bowel disease clinic. Inflamm Bowel Dis 19:2666-72
McGrady, Meghan E; Hommel, Kevin A (2013) Medication adherence and health care utilization in pediatric chronic illness: a systematic review. Pediatrics 132:730-40
Hommel, Kevin A; Greenley, Rachel N; Maddux, Michele Herzer et al. (2013) Self-management in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease: A clinical report of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 57:250-7
Greenley, Rachel N; Kunz, Jennifer H; Walter, Jennifer et al. (2013) Practical strategies for enhancing adherence to treatment regimen in inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis 19:1534-45