FAQ | IBD&me

The goal of IBD&me is to help you think about what matters most to you when discussing treatment options with your doctor, and the role that biologic medicines may play in your treatment journey. After you answer the questions in the IBD&me Decision Tree, you will instantly receive your Personalized Report. This report will be unique to you, and will describe what factors you find most important when considering among different biologics. You can print out the report and bring it with you to your next clinic visit, or you can send it in an email to your doctor or to anyone else. The report will help your doctor understand what is most important to you in a biologic medicine. This can spark a more informed discussion between you and your doctor so that you can decide what treatment option best fits your needs and lifestyle.

What is the purpose of the “Learn More” section?

Individuals visiting IBD&me will have different levels of understanding of biologic medicines. The “Learn More” section is designed to go over important terms and concepts related to biologics. Please take the time to review the material so that you can get the most out of the IBD&me Decision Tree. This will help the computer create a Personalized Report that more accurately reflects your values and preferences. You will also see that the headings of each page of the “Learn More” section will appear on the sidebar so that you can go back to a previous page if you want to look at the information again.

What is the IBD&me Decision Tree and how will it help me?

The IBD&me Decision Tree will help you figure out what is most important to you when considering the different biologic medicines. The Decision Tree will show you different medicine profiles side by side. As you go through the questions, the computer will start to learn more about what matters most to you.

After you finish the questions, you will receive your IBD&me Personalized Report. It will show what factors are most important to you—for example, it may show that the way you receive the medicine is the most important factor for you in the decision-making process.

You can also choose to share the report with others. You can print out the report and bring it with you to your next clinic visit, or you can send it in an email to your doctor or to anyone else. The report will help your doctor understand what is most important to you when considering biologic medicines. This can spark a more informed discussion between you and your doctor so that you can decide what treatment option best fits your needs and lifestyle.

Questions about how to complete IBD&me

Can I skip the “Learn More” section?

Yes, you can skip any page in the “Learn More” section. However, even if the material is familiar to you, we recommend that you take the time to read each page. You may learn something new, and it will help you get the most out of the IBD&me Decision Tree.

How long will it take me to go through the IBD&me website?

Different people take different amounts of time to go through the IBD&me website. The amount of time depends on your prior knowledge of biologics and the number of questions that the IBD&me Decision Tree creates for you. Most patients will complete the “Learn More” section and the Decision Tree in a total of 15 to 25 minutes. Please try not to rush through the process. The more accurate your responses are, the more helpful the Personalized Report will be to you.

Does everyone answer the same IBD&me Decision Tree questions that I answer?

No. The IBD&me Decision Tree is “smart” because it listens to your responses and creates new questions that make sense for your situation. Therefore, the Decision Tree will present each person with a unique set of questions.

What will happen if I can't answer a question during the IBD&me Decision Tree?

You may find that some questions in the IBD&me Decision Tree are difficult to answer. They are designed to make you think hard about the pros and cons of the different biologic medicines. Please try to answer the questions to the best of your ability, even if none of the options seem like ideal choices.

What if I made a mistake answering a question during the IBD&me Decision Tree?

If you want to change an answer on a previous screen, you can go back to the question by clicking on the back arrow button toward the bottom of the page. You can go all the way back to the beginning of the IBD&me Decision Tree to change your answers by continually clicking on the back arrow button.

Please note that once you complete all the questions and receive your Personalized Report, you will not be able to change your answers.

What happens if I can't finish going through all the questions in the IBD&me Decision Tree?

Unfortunately, you cannot save your progress and come back to finish at a later time. However, most people can answer all the questions in one sitting.

Questions about the IBD&me Personalized Report

How do I interpret the Personalized Report?

Your IBD&me Personalized Report shows what was most important to you when considering among different biologic options. It includes your “importance scores” for the 7 biologic characteristics that were presented in the IBD&me Decision Tree. The higher the score, the more important the characteristic was to you. The importance scores were calculated by the computer based on your answers to the IBD&me Decision Tree.

For example, a person may receive a report that shows the most important factor was the chance of improvement in symptoms, with an importance score of 40%. This means that 40% of the person’s decision-making related to the chances of having an improvement in symptoms in one year. The report may also show that risk of lymphoma (importance score of 25%) and risk of infection (importance score of 20%) were also important factors. Finally, it may show that the other biologic characteristics (i.e., way you receive the medicine, time in between doses, tolerability of unwanted side effects, risk of scaly skin rash) were less of a priority in the decision-making process.

What is an example of how I could use the Personalized Report?

When you have your next clinic visit, you can share your Personalized Report with your doctor so that he or she can understand what is most important to you when considering biologic medicines. During the visit, you and your doctor may then focus the conversation around these factors. This will help you both decide on the treatment option that best fits your needs and lifestyle.

Will the Personalized Report tell me which specific biologic medicine is right for me?

No. The decision of which medicine to use is ultimately up to you and your doctor. The IBD&me Decision Tree is not designed to pick out a medicine for you. Instead, it is designed to collect important information that can help you and your doctor make the most informed decision.

When you get to the end of the IBD&me Decision Tree, you will see your Personalized Report on the screen. Here, you will have the option to email yourself a copy of the report. After you receive the report in your email inbox, you can then print it out and bring it with you to the doctor, or you can send it in an email to your doctor.

How can I access the Personalized Report later?

Questions about confidentiality and security of IBD&me

Where are my answers going and how are they protected from others to see?

IBD&me is a highly secure system. Your responses will be stored in a database serviced by Rackspace Hosting, Inc., and it meets all standard criteria for security. Please also note that IBD&me does not collect any personal health information (e.g., name, address, Social Security number, etc.).

Are my answers confidential? Who will be able to see them?

Absolutely. Your answers are held in strict confidence. The only people who will be able to see your results are those with whom you choose to share your IBD&me Personalized Report.