Latin American consensus on the quality indicators for comprehensive care clinics for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: PANCCO-GETECCU

Abstract

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and incurable entity. The aim of the Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) is to create awareness of IBD, with special emphasis on Latin America, and the primary objective of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU, the Spanish acronym) is to obtain the accreditation of the clinical and therapeutic criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

Aim: To carry out a consensus for evaluating the approval criteria that a Comprehensive Care Clinic for Latin American IBD patients must meet, to be considered a center of excellence.

Materials and methods: Fourteen clinical experts participated in the consensus. They were made up of specialists in gastroenterology, with broad clinical experience, spanning several years, in managing the care of a large number of patients with IBD, as well as advanced specialists in IBD. Thirteen of the participants came from 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela) that have IBD clinics. An expert from Spain, representing the GETECCU, provided the methodologic support. The consensus consisted of 52 statements divided into three sections: 1) Structure indicators, 2) Process indicators, and 3) Result indicators. The Delphi panel method was applied.

Results: The present Latin American consensus describes the quality indicators that a Comprehensive Care Clinic for IBD patients must meet, to be considered a center of excellence, taking into account the needs of our region.

Conclusions: This is the first Latin American consensus, jointly carried out by the PANCCO and GETECCU, to present accreditation standards for centers of excellence in the care of patients with IBD.

Keywords: Atención; Care; Centers of excellence; Centros de excelencia; Colitis ulcerosa; Consenso; Consensus; Crohn’s disease; Enfermedad de Crohn; Enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal; Inflammatory bowel disease; Ulcerative colitis.