Released on: October 20, 2008, 6:30 am

Press Release Author: EFCCA

Industry: Healthcare

Press Release Summary: The EFCCA have launched a new series of guides titled "Life
and IBD" at the United European Gastroenterology Week this week in Vienna, Austria.
The series of guides are designed to be personalised so patients can access
information appropriate to their life stage and disease severity as often patients
are not sure how to speak openly and honestly about how their IBD is affecting them
because of fear of embarrassment.

Press Release Body: "Life and IBD" guides help close the communication gap between
patients and physicians


Vienna, Austria, 20 October 2008 - To help those with inflammatory bowel disease
(IBD) be better informed and involved in managing their disease, the European
Foundation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations (EFCCA) has launched a new
series of guides titled "Life and IBD". For over one million people across Europe
who have it, IBD can be an overwhelming experience with new physicians, medications
and terminology.

The guides in the "Life and IBD" series are designed to be personalised so patients
can access information appropriate to their life stage and disease severity. The
first guide contains useful information about preparing for visits to the doctor,
questions to ask one's gastroenterologist and a self-assessment to determine the
severity of IBD symptoms. The second guide in the series provides a roadmap for
developing an IBD management plan, which gives patients a clear strategy for keeping
their IBD symptoms under control. The third guide in the series is intended to help
patients understand their illness, what causes it, how it might affect them and
their role in managing the illness.

"Often, patients are not sure how to speak openly and honestly about how their IBD
is affecting them because of fear of embarrassment," said Marco Greco, Chairman of
the EFCCA. "The 'Life and IBD' guides provide tools to help people with IBD keep
the lines of communication open with their physician, making them a trusted partner
in care."

According to a recent survey conducted by EFCCA, nearly half of physicians in Europe
do not ask patients about their quality of life and nearly half of patients do not
initiate a conversation about quality of life-related concerns with their
physicians. Discussing these concerns can provide important information about
effectiveness of treatment, and materials such as the "Life and IBD" guides can help
close the communication gap between physicians and patients and provide patients
with a feeling of empowerment.

"Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are complicated diseases, with a number of
varied symptoms, potential complications and treatment options," said Professor
Subrata Ghosh, Division on Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
"Because no two people with IBD are the same, it's important for patients to work
closely with their physicians to ensure their treatment plans are meeting their
needs."

For patients, open conversation with their physicians can help ensure their disease
does not derail their lives. "I'm often forced to miss work because of my disease,"
said Alexandra Gliati of Greece, who has Crohn's disease. "It's very important that
I stay vigilant in treating my IBD to avoid a flare, and the information found in
these guides has helped me talk to my doctor and better manage my disease."

The "Life and IBD" guides can be viewed, downloaded and printed from the EFCCA
website, located at www.LifeAndIBD.org. "Life and IBD" is supported by Abbott, a
global broad-based healthcare company.

About the European Foundation of Crohn's & Ulcerative Colitis Associations
Established in 1993, the EFCCA's mission is to improve the well being of patients
with IBD and their partners and families through: working with and for the EFCCA
Member National Associations and others throughout all of Europe; facilitating the
exchange of information and the promotion of cross-frontier activities; effecting
regular contact with the European authorities, doctors, health professionals and
organizations and with others worldwide; and the encouragement of scientific
research into IBD causes and treatment. EFCCA membership now includes 23 European
national Crohn's and colitis patient associations.


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