Anderson, Robert

ABSTRACT Background Coeliac disease is due to an acquired, lifelong gluten‐specific immune response resulting in a gluten‐dependent chronic immune‐mediated enteropathy associated with gastrointestinal and extraintestinal morbidity. Strictly avoiding dietary gluten is the only available management but has never been subjected to rigorous efficacy assessment now required for a pharmaceutical agent. Gluten‐free diet (GFD) is partially and inconsistently effective, but it places a high burden on patients, families, the food industry, and regulators and is defined inconsistently around the world, highlighting the need for effective and convenient adjunctive pharmacological therapies. Aims To summarize key patient, scientific, and regulatory considerations for coeliac disease drug development based on a multi‐stakeholder meeting focused on accelerating clinical trials. Methods A pre‐competitive meeting convened by the Beyond Celiac Coalition (May 2024) included patients with coeliac disease, academic experts, pharmaceutical industry representatives, and participants from the US Food and Drug Administration. Moderated panel addressed patient priorities, symptom and histologic endpoints, biopsy and histology methods, gluten challenge design, clinical trial duration, and regulatory expectations. Themes were synthesized qualitatively with focus on trial design implications and unresolved questions. Results Participants described high symptom burden and psychosocial impact despite gluten‐free diet adherence underscoring unmet therapeutic need in coeliac disease. Regulatory perspectives emphasized the need for clinically meaningful improvement and evidence of intestinal benefit, framed as symptom and histology co‐primary endpoints in clinical trials. These expectations were discussed as most applicable to trial populations with both clinically meaningful symptoms and active histologic injury at baseline; for other phenotypes, it was emphasized that endpoint strategy, the role of gluten exposure, and trial duration should be tailored case by case to the population and mechanism of action. Practical challenges identified included endpoint selection and definition, discordance between symptoms and histology, selecting fit‐for‐purpose symptom measures; standardizing biopsy acquisition and central histology reads to address patchiness and variability, pre‐specifying definitions of meaningful histologic change given ongoing uncertainty about healing, and trial feasibility. Controlled gluten exposure was discussed as a tool to improve interpretability of efficacy outcomes, with careful consideration of dose, duration, patient burden and safety. Discussion addressed the ideal length of the double‐blind period, including a shorter 24‐week double‐blind study with an open‐label extension versus a 52‐week double‐blind design. Trial duration should balance scientific rigour, patient retention, and the need for longer‐term safety and durability data, with flexibility to tailor the approach to context. Conclusions Progress in coeliac disease drug development will require patient‐centred, scientifically robust but feasible trial designs with appropriate endpoints, justified use of gluten exposure, consideration of improved biomarkers to reduce patient burden and early regulatory engagement. Continued multi‐stakeholder collaboration, including dedicated consideration of paediatric drug development, is essential to advance effective therapies.

Background Intensive care unit early mobility programs improve patients’ functional status and outcomes. An electronic health record–based communication tool improved interprofessional communication within an early mobility program. Long-term sustainability of this communication tool has not been evaluated. Local Problem Ineffective interprofessional communication was perceived as a barrier to success of an intensive care unit early mobility program at the project institution. An electronic health record–based communication tool was successfully implemented to improve communication. Sustaining the intervention is of continued importance. Methods Longitudinal data were collected 2 years after initial implementation of the communication tool to evaluate its continued impact on patient outcomes and staff engagement with an intensive care unit early mobility program. Results Initial implementation of the electronic health record–based communication tool resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in patient and staff metrics. Compared with postimplementation data, 2-year longitudinal follow-up data revealed nonsignificant changes in patient outcomes (time from admission to mobility goal, mechanical ventilation duration, length of intensive care unit stay, and discharge disposition recommendations to higher independence levels). Staff reported continued use of the communication tool and positive perceptions of its impact on the intensive care unit early mobility program. Conclusions Nonsignificant changes in patient outcomes may indicate sustainment of the effect of the communication tool’s original implementation. Employing appropriate sustainment techniques is essential to maintain practice change. The electronic health record–based communication tool can improve interprofessional communication within an intensive care unit early mobility program, improving patient outcomes and staff teamwork.

AbstractBackgroundCompelling evidence supports multiple benefits of physical activity (PA) even in small bursts. Less than 50% of Americans achieve recommended PA levels, lower still for individuals living with chronic illness or disease.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of 3‐min follow‐along video scenarios to promote brief episodes of low–moderate levels of PA among individuals with chronic diseases.MethodsGuided by our previous studies and self‐efficacy theory, the program (WellMe in 3© for Patients) was modeled after another program developed for healthcare staff. An advisory panel and a health and fitness expert guided the creation of twelve 3‐min video scenarios that included two individuals living with chronic illness and a fitness leader who guided the PA scenarios and how to adapt them based on limitations. The 12 scenarios included 3 min of aerobic activities, stretching, or balance. Preliminary pilot effects were measured among 39 patients living with chronic conditions for one month. Standardized instruments were used to measure PA levels, PA self‐efficacy (SE), and quality of life (QoL); usability and satisfaction were assessed using researcher‐developed tools. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to evaluate change over time.ResultsTwelve video scenarios were created tailored to persons with chronic illness. Thirty‐nine participants piloted the program, reporting an average of two chronic conditions. Baseline QoL scores were lower than normative data, self‐efficacy scores were low‐to‐moderate, and PA levels were very low. Participants averaged using one video per day. 62% of participants provided complete self‐reported pre‐ and post‐QoL and SE data and 41% provided pre‐ and post‐PA (accelerometer) data. Significant improvements were found for general health and energy scores, and trends were found for self‐efficacy scores. PA levels were highly variable with nonsignificant increases from baseline. Effect sizes were low–moderate for several measures. About 79% of participants rated program “Very good”; all recommended the program.Linking Evidence to ActionPhysical activity has multiple health benefits for all people including those living with chronic conditions. Even short bouts of physical activity have health benefits. A program of 3‐min follow‐along PA videoclips for individuals living with chronic disease holds promise for clinicians and researchers.