IBD Primary Care Toolkit

Considerations for diagnosed patients

Healthcare professional holding a smartphone and stylus

Preventative medicine and health maintenance

Areas of IBD care for the primary care clinician

Active care team members

Active care team members

Primary care clinicians could be proactive members on the IBD care team.

Co-management

Co-management

Primary care clinicians and gastroenterologists can help co-manage patients with IBD by identifying and addressing health maintenance issues, which can include preventative medicine, health screenings, and identification of depression and anxiety.

Healthcare professional holding a patient’s hand

Patient perspective

What patients with IBD wish primary care clinicians told them about preventative medicine, holistic care, and health maintenance

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“IBD affects so many things, so just having that real conversation when it comes to diet or mental health … IBD is a life-changing event, the ... symp...

— 40-year-old self-identifying Black female with ulcerative colitis

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“... when I need to update my immunizations ... can I still take these types of vaccines?”

— 28-year-old self-identifying Asian female with ulcerative colitis

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“It would have been extremely helpful if we had more of an open, comprehensive conversation about dietary restrictions and changes given my diagnosis.”

— 26-year-old self-identifying Black male with ulcerative colitis

Preventative health maintenance suggestions

The table below includes suggested schedules for monitoring, screening, and follow up for IBD-related complications.

Preventative care suggestions

TimelineAreas to assess

Baseline

  • Before starting immunosuppressive therapy, ensure patients are up to date on their vaccines and screen for infections such as tuberculosis and hepatitis B

Each Visit

  • Mental health
  • Smoking cessation

Annually

  • Screen patients to ensure they are up to date on vaccines, including annual influenza vaccine
  • Skin exam
  • Cervical cancer screening by cytology annually (if cytology alone) or every 3 years (if HPV negative)
  • Nutritional deficiencies

Periodically

  • Colorectal cancer screening (repeat every 1-3 years, based on risk factors and collaboration with GI/IBD specialist)
  • Osteoporosis should be considered in patients with IBD (repeat periodically, repeating in 5 years, no sooner than 2 years if the initial screen is normal)

This table is for educational purposes only. Healthcare providers are encouraged to check guidelines periodically as recommendations may change. Adapted from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Health Maintenance Checklist.

Other preventative care topics in IBD management can include ophthalmologic screening, oral/dental health, and pain management.

More detailed information about the suggested preventative care can be found in Appendix B–Preventative medicine.

Illustration showing a checklist and prescription medication bottles
IBD Primary Care Toolkit

Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates provided financial sponsorship for this toolkit. They were not members of the steering committee. The steering committee approved the suggested edits made by Johnson & Johnson and its affiliates to provide accuracy and balance.


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Last updated in March 2026.
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