Coeliac disease and its diagnosis in primary care – what is the patient experience?

In this episode, we talk to Dr Alice Harper, an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow based at the Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol. 

Title of paper: Understanding the patient experience of coeliac disease diagnosis: a qualitative interview study

Available at: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0299

Previous qualitative studies on coeliac disease (CD) focus on patient experience after diagnosis. This study found patients experience uncertainty during the pathway to CD diagnosis, particularly pre-diagnosis and during investigations. Endoscopy was thought to be necessary for diagnostic confidence and conviction in a lifelong gluten free diet. As the diagnostic pathway evolves, consideration must be given to reducing patient uncertainty.