IBD patients should share concerns with physicians, UCI Health expert urges
Openness essential in relationship that could last for decades
IN THE NEWS: A new study shows that those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) still have serious concerns about their condition despite treatment advances.
Dr. Robert Fearn, a gastroenterologist with the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute, says that while physicians recognize that patients have concerns about their Crohn’s disease or colitis, doctors can’t help if they aren’t made aware of them. He spoke with HealthCentral about how discussing worries helps build trust between the patient and doctor. He was not involved with the study.
“There must be trust at the center of the patient-doctor relationship. It’s a relationship that may continue for years. Decades even. We can’t build that trust if we don’t understand the concerns of our patients.”
Fearn is an assistant professor at the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology. He is also affiliated with the new sports nutrition program, housed at the UCI Health Chao Digestive Health Institute. There, a team of physicians and registered dietitians partner with patients to balance the microbiome and nutritiously fuel the body to maximize athletic performance.
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About UCI Health
UCI Health is one of California’s largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health — Orange, UCI Health — Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties. As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education. Follow UCI Health on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.