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Background and aim: Education of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) about their disease and access to a specialist are important to improve health outcomes. Our objective was to determine, by collecting information directly from the patients, their information sources and knowledge of the disease, and the options for access to the gastroenterologist. Methods: The information was collected using a printed survey handed out by 39 gastroenterologists to 15 consecutive adult patients with UC. Patients answered anonymously from their home. The responses were stratified by hospital size (> 900; 500-900; < 500 beds). Results: A total of 585 patients received the survey and 436 responded (74.5%; mean age of 46 years [13.5], 53% men). The main information source was the specialist physician (89.2%). Between 32% and 80% of patients had areas of improvement regarding knowledge of their disease. Knowledge of the disease was better in patients from small hospitals (< 500 beds). The frequency of routine visits was also higher in small hospitals. In case of a flare-up, 60% stated they were able to contact their doctor by phone and 37%, that they could get an appointment on the same day. The percentage stating that they had to ask for an appointment and wait until their physician was available was lower in small hospitals. Conclusions: There are areas of improvement with regard to knowledge of their disease in patients with UC followed in hospital clinics. Patients followed in small hospitals seem to know their disease better, are followed more frequently in the clinic, and have better access in case of a flare-up.

RESUMEN Introducción: en la actualidad no existe una clasificación endoscópica totalmente aceptada para evaluar el grado de gastropatía de la hipertensión portal (GHP). Hay pocos estudios que evalúen la concordancia inter e intraobservador o el grado de concordancia entre las distintas clasificaciones endoscópicas. Objetivos: evaluar la concordancia inter e intraobservador respecto a la presencia de gastro y enteropatía portal utilizando distintas clasificaciones endoscópicas. Métodos: fueron incluidos pacientes con cirrosis hepática a los que se realizó una enteroscopia bajo sedación. Se describió la localización de las lesiones y el grado de las mismas. Las imágenes se registraron mediante grabación en vídeo que posteriormente fue valorada por tres endoscopistas diferentes de manera independiente, uno de ellos el endoscopista inicial. La concordancia entre observaciones se evaluó utilizando el índice kappa. Resultados: se incluyeron un total de 74 pacientes (edad media de 63,2 años, con una proporción de 53/21 hombre/mujer). La concordancia entre los tres endoscopistas, para la presencia o ausencia de GHP según las clasificaciones de Tanoue y McCormack, fue muy baja: kappa = 0,16 y 0,27 respectivamente. Conclusiones: las actuales clasificaciones de la gastropatía portal presentan un grado de acuerdo intra e interobservador muy bajo tanto para el diagnóstico como para la evaluación de la gravedad de la gastropatía.