IBD GP Aware webinar: project overview and update

GPs, gastroenterologists, and other interested health professionals are invited to join us for a 30-minute webinar to learn about IBD GP Aware – the Inflammatory Bowel Disease GP Aware Project.

IBD GP Aware stems from a priority area identified in the Federal Government’s IBD National Action Plan to support general practitioners to more effectively participate in IBD management through awareness, education, and continuing professional development.

The Plan’s vision is that All Australians living with inflammatory bowel disease have access to high-quality, integrated care to best manage their own health and improve quality of life.

GP Aware aims to improve GP capacity to work with patients to improve health outcomes and experience of care through raising awareness, co-develop a suite of IBD education resources and continuing professional development (CPD). The training resources will provide education and support for GPs to more effectively participate in IBD management.

Join us at 6pm AEST on Tuesday 21 September 2021 where we will be presenting project details, an update on achievements thus far, and insights into some of the key IBD guidelines and training to be released in the coming months. The webinar is free-of-charge but registration is essential. It is expected to run for around 30 minutes.

IBD GP Aware project deliverables include:

1. Identification of barriers and enablers to the effective use of current management protocols and relevant gaps in information
2. Implementation of a program to increase awareness of appropriate management protocols
3. Development and promotion of IBD Continuing Professional Development training and educational resources

GP Aware is led by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia with consortium partners the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) and AGPAL. The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

IBD – the collective term for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – is a chronic, complex, and largely hidden disease. There is no cure and Australia has one of the highest incidence rates of IBD globally, with numbers increasing each year as is the diagnosis of young people. Management of the condition is problematic for individuals and communities with current research showing that many patients with IBD receive suboptimal care.

AGPAL is pleased to be part of this priority program to help deliver on the IBD National Action Plan and work towards advancing education and support for IBD patients and their families through the provision of in-depth and high-quality resources.