Knowledge Gaps, Treatment Preferences, and Unmet Clinical Needs Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross‐Sectional Study

This study utilized a cross-sectional survey via a structured questionnaire to evaluate disease-related knowledge, treatment preferences, and unmet needs among 200 adults with confirmed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at a tertiary referral center. The questionnaire specifically assessed disease knowledge using the 24-item IBD-KNOW score, priorities for treatment attributes, preferred administration modalities, and self-reported unmet needs. Results indicated a mean IBD-KNOW score of 14.8/24, reflecting moderate overall knowledge, with female sex identified as an independent predictor of higher knowledge levels (OR: 1.87, p = 0.044). In terms of treatment, patients prioritized efficacy (8.9/10) over safety (8.5) and convenience (8.1); notably, 49% ranked efficacy as the most important factor, whereas 88% ranked convenience as the least important. The most preferred administration modalities were once-daily oral therapy (31%) and bimonthly subcutaneous injection (29.5%). While 43.5% of respondents reported no unmet needs, significant concerns persisted regarding the fear of disease progression (24.5%), medication cost (22.5%), and long waiting times for care (20.5%). These findings suggest that although IBD patients possess moderate disease-specific knowledge and place a strong emphasis on treatment efficacy and long-interval regimens, clinical focus is still needed to address ongoing anxieties regarding long-term outcomes, financial burdens, and healthcare access.