Abstract Background IBDs are commonly diagnosed in young life the diagnosis can be a significant period of adjustment. The IBD Standards (2019) identify the newly diagnosed patients as a group of patients who need particular attention and support. However, we could not identify any evidence of what these needs were. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial needs of newly diagnosed patients. Methods This was a quality improvement project exploring the psychosocial needs of patients newly diagnosed with IBD who attended a targeted nurse and gastroenterologist newly diagnosed clinic. All patients who attended this clinic between February and October 2025 were contacted and asked to complete a questionnaire about their needs. Distress was assessed using a modified version of the distress thermometer, which asks patients to indicate the distress caused by their disease (cut off ≥4), as well as to indicate which difficulties contribute to this distress. Patients also completed the brief illness perceptions questionnaire (BIPQ), which asks patients to agree with statements using a 0-10 Likert scale. Questions were also asked about their disease, support that they have available to them, support that they still feel is needed and format of support. Results A total of 85 patients were contacted and 25 responded, 60% were female and 56% had Crohn’s disease. 88% were on medication for treatment of their IBD. 72% were confident they knew where to get help with at least some elements of disease. 100% had talked to someone other than an HCP about their disease. The topics that patients most wanted information on were diet (36%), adjustment to disease (24%), work/study (18%) and travel (18%). 84% reported being distressed by their disease and responses to the BIPQ indicated that patients feel very impacted by their disease, have limited control and have limited hope for treatment. Despite this few had accessed psychological or psychiatric support, only 28% had accessed talking therapies and 12% had taken antidepressant medication. Patients indicated that they would be interested in attending information sessions from the MDT (72%). There was also a positive response to receiving psychological support at this time (72%). Patient’s preferred format to receive information was from a HCP (31%) with information on a website being second choice (26%). Conclusion Patients newly diagnosed with IBD have high psychosocial needs. Despite receiving information about their medical journey, patients feel that their lives are impacted in a number of different areas and they need more support around these. Psychological need is high and something that few patients have access to. Patients are keen to receive information from their healthcare team. References: Crohn’s & Colitis UK. IBD standards. 2009. https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/improving-care-services/health-services/ibd-standards Conflict of interest: Duff, Alexa: Personal Fees: Speaker fees from Takeda, Alfa Sigma, Tillotts, Abbvie and Janssen in the last year Al Jarrah, Hala: No conflict of interest Tyrrell, Tracey: No conflict of interest Hart, Ailsa: Grant: Takeda Personal Fees: Abbvie, Amgen, Arena, AZ, Falk, Celltrion, Eli Lilly, Ferring, Genentech/ Roche, GSK, Pfizer, Takeda, Napp, Pharmacosmos, Janssen (J&J), Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Galapagos, Alfasigma Frearson, Sonya: No conflict of interest
Duff et al. (Thu,) studied this question.