Improvements in Digestive Symptoms After Participation in an App-Based Chronic Digestive Disease Management Program: A Prospective Cohort Evaluation

Background: Fewer than 20% of adults with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms have accessed care to evaluate or manage their symptoms. We sought to characterize whether adults with chronic GI symptoms would use an app for symptom monitoring and the effects of participation in a digitally delivered GI chronic care program.

Methods: We provided a digital digestive care management app to adults via their employer-sponsored benefits. We evaluated participants' self-reported GI symptoms at baseline and between 30 and 90 days post-registration. GI symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain and constipation) were rated on a scale of 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (very severe symptoms).

Results: A total of 1936 participants were enrolled (75% female; 67% White, 11% Asian/Pacific Islander, 6% Hispanic, 7% Black; mean age: 43 years). Their most common GI conditions were irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and acid reflux. Participants of all genders and races reported statistically significant improvements in all symptoms between baseline and the end of the intervention (P < 0.05). At baseline, 79.5% of participants reported at least moderate GI symptom severity for at least one symptom. In contrast, at the end of the intervention, only 47.8% of participants reported moderate or severe symptoms, and 310 (16.0%) participants reported no symptoms. Participants who were scheduled with their care team reported greater symptom improvement than those who were not scheduled (P = 0.004). Participants reported feeling greater control of their health (83%), better management of their digestive symptoms (83%), increased happiness (76%), and greater productivity at work (54%).

Conclusion: Demographically diverse participants engaged with a digital digestive chronic care program and reported significant improvements in digestive symptom severity.