Better Health, Brighter Future
Acknowledging the impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on patient well-being
When we think about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we might consider the physical burden that symptoms impose, but do we really stop and think about the impact this chronic condition can have on someone’s mental and emotional well-being?
This World IBD Day, we are proud to support the European Federation of Crohn’s and Colitis Associations’ (EFCCA) campaign to encourage people to start talking about the psychological impact of IBD, including mental well-being, social exclusion, and taboo subjects such as intimate relationships.1 We want to encourage patients to share their stories, so that we can help drive awareness among healthcare providers, policy makers and other stakeholders to encourage them to help find solutions that will have a meaningful impact on a person living with IBD’s quality of life.
Taking care of employee well-being at Takeda
To mark World IBD Day at Takeda, today we are celebrating ‘Wellness Wednesday’, encouraging our employees to dedicate an hour of their time to take part in activities that enhance their well-being in order to show their support to the IBD community.
On 19 May, Takeda colleagues united to recognize the importance of taking time for their well-being and to show their support to the IBD community
Supporting patients every step of the way
To show the impact that living with IBD can have on a patients’ well-being, we are also sharing two stories from people living with IBD: Chantel from Canada and Katja from Germany. These animations highlight how Chantel and Katja felt following diagnosis, the impact IBD has had on their emotional well-being, and how their attitudes and mindset have adapted to ensure that their condition does not define who they are. At Takeda, we are proud to stand alongside the global IBD community and support patients every step of the way.
A day in the life of a person living with IBD
In order to build empathy and understanding around what it means to live with IBD, we have encouraged employees to take part in our In Their Shoes program. The program, developed with patients, carers and healthcare professionals, provides an immersive, first-hand experience of the emotional, physical and psychological impact of living with IBD, and the struggles that patients face on a day-to-day basis.2 The 24-hour experience includes real-time mobile app challenges, telephone role-play and accompanying ‘kit’ items are provided to be used at specific timepoints.2 The In Their Shoes program is just one of the ways that Takeda is working to acknowledge the impact of IBD on patient well-being, and what life with this disease means for psychological health, social interactions, and family life.
References
1. EFCCA. World IBD Day 2021. https://www.efcca.org/en/break-silence-world-ibd-day-2021. Last accessed April 2021.
2. Halton C, Cartwright T. Walking in a Patient’s Shoes: An Evaluation Study of Immersive Learning Using a Digital Training Intervention. Front Psychol 2018;9:2124.