Early Bowel Resection for terminal Ileal Crohn’s disease (E-BRIC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Early Bowel Resection for terminal ileal Crohn’s disease (E-BRIC) – exploring patients’ and clinicians' perspectives and barriers to implementation
IRAS ID
306639
Contact name
Nilofer Husnoo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Crohn’s disease causes inflammation of the gut. In a third of patients it affects the join between the small and large bowel. These patients are given powerful drugs to control their symptoms. Some require an operation to remove part of the bowel. Usually operations are performed after many drugs have been tried and have not worked. Despite these powerful drugs, most patients with disease in this area end up having an operation.
Recent research shows that an early operation before starting some drugs may make the disease less likely to come back, and may reduce the need for medication in the future. This suggests that an operation should be considered sooner and should not be the last resort.
An early operation does not usually happen in practice. Patients and doctors seem to prefer drugs despite the benefits of an operation. This study aims to establish the reasons behind this by exploring clinicians’ and patients’ views on treatment, including early surgery, for Crohn’s disease affecting this part of the bowel.
The complete study includes 5 work packages (WPs). WP1 (literature review) and WP2 (interviews with clinical experts in the UK) have already been completed. WP2 was approved through the University of Sheffield Research Ethics Committee. This IRAS application relates to WP 3-5:
WP3: Interviews with patients with Crohn’s affecting this part of the bowel to understand how they decide on treatment.
WP4: A questionnaire study with patients and clinical experts. They will be asked to choose between drugs and surgery in different situations. This will clarify how patients and clinicians weigh up risks when choosing between surgery or medication.
WP5: A survey of patients who had an operation for this type of Crohn’s disease, asking about their views on the timing of their operation and whether they regret having the operation.
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0568
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion