Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07652840

Treatment Adherence Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Receiving Anti-TNF Therapy

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition characterized by periods of remission and relapse, requiring long-term treatment adherence to maintain disease control and prevent complications. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents are widely used in the management of moderate to severe IBD; however, suboptimal adherence remains a significant clinical problem due to concerns related to adverse effects, treatment burden, and insufficient patient knowledge.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a nurse-led, Health Belief Model (HBM)-based structured patient education program on treatment adherence among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-TNF-α therapy. The study was conducted as a two-center trial between February and July 2024 in the gastroenterology inpatient units and outpatient clinics in Izmir, Turkey.

A total of 408 patients were screened, and 140 eligible patients were enrolled and allocated 1:1 to intervention (n=70) and control (n=70) groups.

Participants were randomized using stratified randomization to balance potential confounders, with strata defined by sex, age group (18-35, 36-54, ≥55), IBD type (ulcerative colitis/Crohn's disease), IBD diagnosis duration (<12, 13-24, 25-36 months), and anti-TNF treatment duration (<6, 6-12, 13-36 months). Assignments were generated via SPSS with a fixed block size within strata.

Eligible participants were adults (≥18 years), Turkish-literate, diagnosed with IBD for ≥6 months, using anti-TNF-α therapy for ≥3 months, able to communicate and cognitively competent, and willing to participate. Key exclusions included cognitive disorders (e.g., dementia/Alzheimer's), malignant/pre-malignant disease history, and use of more than four medications.

The intervention group received the HBM-based structured education, while the control group received standard education. Outcomes were assessed using a pre-test/post-test design to determine the program's impact on adherence-related measures.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Izmir Ekonomi University Medical Point Hospital, Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye)

Loading trial locations.

About this study

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a nurse-led, structured patient education program based on the Health Belief Model on treatment adherence among patients receiving anti-TNF therapy. The study was conducted in two tertiary care hospitals in Türkiye between February and July 2024.

Eligible participants were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either an intervention group or a control group using stratified randomization. Stratification variables included demographic and disease-related characteristics to ensure balance between study arms. Randomization sequences were generated using a computer-based randomization procedure.

Participants in the intervention group received a structured patient education program delivered by trained nurses and grounded in the constructs of the Health Belief Model, focusing on adherence-related beliefs, perceived benefits and barriers, and self-management of anti-TNF therapy. Participants in the control group received standard education routinely provided in outpatient clinical practice.

The study followed a pre-test/post-test design with follow-up assessment to evaluate changes over time. Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at follow-up. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by comparing adherence-related outcomes between the intervention and control groups over time.

This trial aimed to contribute evidence on the role of theory-based, nurse-led patient education in supporting treatment adherence among patients receiving biologic therapies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
  • Diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease for at least 6 months
  • Receiving anti-TNF-α therapy for at least 3 months
  • Able to read and write in Turkish
  • Able to communicate effectively
  • Cognitively competent
  • Provided written informed consent and agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of cognitive disorders that may impair understanding or decision-making (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's disease)
  • History of malignant or premalignant disease
  • Use of more than four concurrent medications (e.g., medications for hypertension, diabetes, cancer, or hematologic diseases)

Treatment and study plan

Health Belief Model-Based Structured Patient Education

Behavioral

A nurse-led structured patient education program based on the Health Belief Model, targeting adherence-related beliefs and behaviors for anti-TNF therapy, including education on medication use and addressing concerns and barriers to adherence.

Standard Patient Education

Behavioral

Standard patient education routinely provided in outpatient clinical practice for patients receiving anti-TNF therapy, without a structured theoretical framework.

Primary outcomes

  1. Anti-TNF Alpha Treatment Adherence Scale

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up

    Treatment adherence was measured using the Anti-TNF Alpha Treatment Adherence Scale, a validated self-report instrument assessing patients' adherence behaviors related to anti-TNF therapy. The scale evaluates multiple domains including medication-taking behavior, concerns about treatment, perceived barriers, and factors influencing continuation or discontinuation of therapy. Higher scores indicate better adherence to anti-TNF treatment.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Partners in Healthcare Scale

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention), immediately post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up

    Nurse-patient collaboration was assessed using the Partners in Healthcare Scale-Turkish (PIH-TR), which measures the degree of cooperation, shared decision-making, and partnership between patients and healthcare professionals in disease management. Higher scores reflect stronger collaboration.

  2. Patient Satisfaction With Education

    Time frame: Immediately post-intervention

    Patient satisfaction with the education received was measured using the The Psychometric Assessment on Patient Educationn Scale, a validated instrument evaluating patients' perceptions of the clarity, usefulness, and adequacy of the educational intervention provided during the study.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Health Belief Model-Based Nurse-Led Patient Education on Treatment Adherence Among Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Receiving Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 17, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.