Author/Authors :
El-Matary, Wael Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Winnipeg Children’s Hospital - Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Winnipeg, Canada , Benchimol, Eric I Department of Pediatrics - University of Ottawa and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada , Mack, David Department of Pediatrics - University of Ottawa and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada , Huynh, Hien Q Edmonton Pediatric IBD Clinic (EPIC) - Department of Pediatrics - University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada , Critch, Jeff Department of Pediatrics - Janeway Children’s Hospital, Canada , Otley, Anthony Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition - Department of Pediatrics - IWK Health Centre - Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada , Deslandres, Colette Department of Pediatrics - CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Canada , Jacobson, Kevan Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Department of Pediatrics - BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada , deBruyn, Jennifer Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Department of Pediatrics - University of Calgary, Canada , Carroll, Matthew W Edmonton Pediatric IBD Clinic (EPIC) - Department of Pediatrics - University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada , Wine, Eytan Edmonton Pediatric IBD Clinic (EPIC) - Department of Pediatrics - University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada , Limbergen, Johan Van Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition - Department of Pediatrics - IWK Health Centre - Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada , Sherlock, Mary Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, Canada , Bax, Kevin Department of Pediatrics - Schulich School of Medicine - Western University - Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario, London, Canada , Lawrence, Sally Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Department of Pediatrics - BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada , Seidman, Ernest Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Montreal Children’s Hospital - Department of Pediatrics - McGill University, Montreal, Canada , Issenman, Robert Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, Canada , Walters, Thomas D Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Hospital for Sick Children - Department of Pediatrics - University of Toronto, Canada , Church, Peter Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Hospital for Sick Children - Department of Pediatrics - University of Toronto, Canada , Griffiths, Anne M. Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology - Hepatology and Nutrition - Hospital for Sick Children - Department of Pediatrics - University of Toronto, Canada
Abstract :
Objectives
The current number of healthcare providers (HCP) caring for children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) across Canadian tertiary-care centres is underinvestigated. The aim of this survey was to assess the number of healthcare providers (HCP) in ambulatory pediatric IBD care across Canadian tertiary-care centres.
Methods
Using a self-administered questionnaire, we examined available resources in academic pediatric centres within the Canadian Children IBD Network. The survey evaluated the number of HCP providing ambulatory care for children with IBD.
Results
All 12 tertiary pediatric gastroenterology centres participating in the network responded. Median full-time equivalent (FTE) of allied health professionals providing IBD care at each site was 1.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 0.6–1.0) nurse, 0.5 (IQR 0.2–0.8) dietitian, 0.3 (IQR 0.2–0.8) social worker, and 0.1 (IQR 0.02–0.3) clinical psychologists. The ratio of IBD patients to IBD physicians was 114 : 1 (range 31 : 1–537 : 1), patients to nurses/physician assistants 324 : 1 (range 150 : 1–900 : 1), dieticians 670 : 1 (range 250 : 1–4500 : 1), social workers 1558 : 1 (range 250 : 1–16000 : 1), and clinical psychologists 2910 : 1 (range 626 : 1–3200 : 1).
Conclusions
There was a wide variation in HCP support among Canadian centres. Future work will examine variation in care including patients' outcomes and satisfaction across Canadian centres.
