A Guide for the Management of Crohn’s Disease
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. This continuing education activity will review the etiology, pathophysiology, and classification of CD. The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of CD is critical to maintaining a quality of life for patients and avoiding complications from the disease. This includes the ability to differentiate between CD and ulcerative colitis. This activity will also discuss available pharmacologic treatments, including mechanisms of action, side effect profiles, and recommended placement in therapy. Finally, it will highlight the role of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as members of interdisciplinary care teams.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the etiology and pathophysiology of Crohn's disease
- Compare and contrast pharmacologic therapies for Crohn’s disease
- Identify mechanisms of action and side effect profiles of medications used to treat Crohn’s disease
- Recall medication counseling points for patients with Crohn’s disease
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Overview of Crohn’s Disease
III. Etiology and Epidemiology
IV. Risk Factors
A. The Microbiome
B. Genetics
C. Immune-Mediated Risks
D. Environment and Lifestyle
V. Pathophysiologic Features of Crohn’s Disease
A. Manifestations of IBD in the GI tract
B. Extraintestinal Manifestations of IBD
VI. Clinical Presentation of Crohn’s Disease
VII. Diagnosing Crohn’s Disease
A. Laboratory Testing
B. Imaging
C. Determining Disease Activity
VIII. Management of Crohn’s Disease
A. Nonpharmacologic and Lifestyle Approaches
B. Pharmacologic Approaches
C. Mild-to-Moderately Severe Disease and Low-Risk Disease
D. Mesalamine
E. Corticosteroids
F. Antimicrobial therapy
G. Moderate-to-Severe Disease/Moderate-to-High-Risk Disease
H. Treating Severe/Fulminant Disease
I. Novel Agents
IX. Drug Monitoring
X. Surgical Options
XI. Maintaining Remission
XII. The Role of the Pharmacy Technician
XIII. Summary
From April 16, 2024 through April 16, 2027, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BPCS, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo and Liz Fredrickson have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".