# Modernising Coeliac Disease Dietitian Follow‐Up: Engagement and Functionality of a Digital Annual Review

## TL;DR

A digital annual review tool for coeliac disease patients was found to be effective and efficient, with high engagement and preference from users.

## Contribution

This study introduces and evaluates a digital virtual annual review tool as a novel alternative for managing coeliac disease follow-ups.

## Key findings

- 81.7% of service users engaged with the digital annual review tool regardless of demographics.
- The digital review process took dietitians 14 minutes on average, less than half the time of face-to-face appointments.
- Over half of the participants preferred future assessments to be conducted digitally.

## Abstract

UK guidance recommends adults living with coeliac disease (CD) receive annual care from a dietitian. However, many CD provisions have difficulties meeting these demands. The study aimed to evaluate a digital virtual annual review (VAR) tool as an alternative method of reviewing clinically stable adults with CD annually.

This single‐centre retrospective study analysed data between September 2022 and March 2024. Adults living with CD, diagnosed for > 3 years and deemed clinically stable by a specialist CD dietitian, received a link to complete the digital VAR tool. Chi‐squared analysis assessed the relationship between demographics and engagement with the tool. Median value indicated clinician triage time. Outcomes of the triage process were presented as frequency and percentages. Ethical approval was obtained from local higher education institute, and information governance approval was received through local processes.

The majority (81.7%, n = 165) of service users engaged with the digital VAR tool. The demographics did not influence engagement. The specialist CD dietitian required 14 min on average to triage a singular digital VAR tool. Following triage, 72.4% (n = 102) did not require interim input prior to their routine annual review. Only 22% (n = 31) were deemed to require a follow‐up clinic appointment with the specialist CD dietitian to discuss symptoms or GF dietary adherence. Service users mainly preferred the digital VAR tool for future reviews (55%, n = 78).

Our study provides supportive evidence for the effectiveness of a digital annual review tool to improve the efficiency of dietetic service provision for stable adults living with CD.

The majority of service users living with coeliac disease engaged with an annual review that was conducted virtually, using a digital platform irrespective of age, gender and ethnicity.The time taken by the specialist coeliac disease dietitian to triage the annual review forms was less than half the time taken for a face‐to‐face clinic appointment.Over half of the service users living with coeliac disease preferred a virtual digital approach for future annual assessments.Further research is required to understand the barriers and challenges in order to improve the service user experience of using the virtual digital assessment.

The majority of service users living with coeliac disease engaged with an annual review that was conducted virtually, using a digital platform irrespective of age, gender and ethnicity.

The time taken by the specialist coeliac disease dietitian to triage the annual review forms was less than half the time taken for a face‐to‐face clinic appointment.

Over half of the service users living with coeliac disease preferred a virtual digital approach for future annual assessments.

Further research is required to understand the barriers and challenges in order to improve the service user experience of using the virtual digital assessment.