Challenge X 2025: The Patient-Led National Design Challenge Team 3
Care Continuum
Care Process & Redesign
CHI INNOVATE
National Healthcare Group
4 December 2025
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients and their caregivers are living with a chronic, life-long disease that is. This integrated solution will enable the 3,000 known IBD patients in Singapore to realise their dreams for a normal, healthy life.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 04 December 2025
Tags: Care Continuum, Population Health, Physical Health, Mental Health, Preventive Care, Community Health, Patient Education, Care Process ＆ Redesign, Quality Improvement, Design Thinking
About this Content
Aims
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients and their caregivers are living with a chronic, life-long disease that is manifested in unpredictable flare-ups. At any time or place patients may experience unexpected symptoms such as diarrhea, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, headache or a combination.
The unpredictability of these flare-ups can cause anticipatory anxiety, whilst the symptoms themselves can sap energy and make it hard for sufferers to cope with studies, work performance, social activities, and daily living in general.
As IBD is physically invisible to others, patient behaviours are often misunderstood, and sufferers can be labelled as misfits and be socially ostracised. This adds to their stress levels, which further exacerbates the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
Lessons Learnt
This integrated solution will enable the 3,000 known IBD patients in Singapore to realise their dreams for a normal, healthy life. The treatment goal for IBD is to achieve remission, and sustain the remission for as long as possible, by preventing recurrent disease flareups.
Currently there is no reliable, hassle-free solution to allow people living with IBD to maintain a Food-Feelings-Symptoms Diary for recording their food intake on a daily basis for long enough to definitively identify their own triggers. Addressing food triggers and mental health challenge in an integrated way could create a powerful breakthrough in the management of IBD.
Keywords
patient-led, design challenge
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Centre for Healthcare Innovation, NHG Health, DesignSingapore Council |
Platform(s) | CHI INNOVATE |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Allied Health, Ancillary Care, Healthcare Administration, Medical, Nursing, Others, Pharmacy |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Gastroenterology |
Project Lead(s) | Nidhi Swarup |
Project Member(s) | Ramesh Om Shanti |
Connect with this contributor!
noor azlinah odenan - noor.ab.odenan@nhghealth.com.sg