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Background: In the last 30 years, we have seen an increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Most cases are diagnosed in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life, a population group that is most familiar with the latest innovations in technology. Patients want to obtain more information about their disease and have complete control over the pathology, while reducing physical meetings with their doctor. Starting from these ideas, the present study aimed to develop a mobile application (app) to support IBD patients on symptoms/events reporting and on treatment administration monitoring. Methods: A multidisciplinary team was created to document and develop the app requirements and design its functionality. The app was beta-tested by several IBD patients. Their feedback was used to further refine the app. Results: We developed connected apps for both smartphones and smartwatches, with dedicated sections for event reporting and medication administration reminders/reporting. Conclusions: The development of apps dedicated to IBD patients is still in early progress. By creating this app, we aim to improve the evolution and compliance of IBD patients and to obtain new information that will have a beneficial impact on the management of these patients and open the door for personalized medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) encompasses a cluster of chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The primary objective of IBD treatment is the management of inflammation, symptom control, and the induction and sustenance of remission. Therapeutic interventions commonly encompass medications, dietary modifications, and, in certain instances, surgical procedures; however, a definitive cure remains elusive. While several nations have established national IBD registries, Romania has not. The responsibility of the implementation of such a registry was assumed by a non-profit organization, the "Clubul Român de Boală Crohn și Colită Ulcerativă", resulting in the creation of the registrul-ibd.ro platform. Given the absence of a curative remedy for IBD, it falls within the realm of personalized medicine. In light of this, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova has developed a mobile application, IBDMonitor, intricately linked with the IBD registry. This innovative application empowers patients to meticulously record critical data, encompassing medication administration, symptomatology, lifestyle habits, as well as physiological, pathological, and daily occurrences. Medical professionals are granted real-time access to these patient-generated reports, enabling them to make prompt treatment adjustments. Following a successful pilot phase, various insights have emerged, notably revealing a relatively low long-term adherence rate to the application. Consequently, advocating for the widespread adoption of both the application and the registry on a national scale holds the potential to significantly enhance the utilization of these invaluable tools in the management of IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]