On November 28, 2019, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada announced the launch of its new mobile app, MyGut. The health charity collaborated closely with Clearbridge Mobile to develop the comprehensive self-management app–available for iOS and Android–that empowers the 270,000 Canadians living with Crohn’s or colitis to take control of their health and wellness.

Affecting every individual differently, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) cause a range of symptoms, such as pain and fatigue, that can be debilitating and impact day-to-day life. For individuals living with IBD, monitoring these symptoms and lifestyle habits is key, but they are often challenging to track. Being able to capture this information helps patients become more involved in decisions about their care and prompts conversation with their healthcare providers.

Understanding existing apps did not address patients’ needs for effectively monitoring their health, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada set out to create an all-encompassing app that helps patients track, understand, and manage their journey. Crohn’s and Colitis Canada engaged in collaborative discussions with gastroenterologists and clinical subject matter experts to identify and establish impactful health-tracking tools based on international standards for MyGut. 

The health charity’s new app not only addresses the need to provide activity tracking and educational materials through an easy-to-use platform, but it also enables patients with the ability to share information about their health with healthcare providers.

“As a patient-centred organization, we are committed to improving the lives of everyone living with Crohn’s or colitis while we continue to chart the course towards cures. We developed MyGut to provide patients with a convenient and practical tool that helps them become more involved in decisions about their care, and in turn helps them to facilitate conversations with their healthcare providers.” – Mina Mawani, President and CEO, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada

Teaming up with Clearbridge Mobile, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada designed a unique mobile experience that supports the IBD community in a number of ways. Acting as a one-stop mobile app experience, MyGut empowers patients through components that include: 

• A personalized dashboard featuring tailored educational materials that meet the needs and interests of each patient, which leads to a better understanding of the disease
• An interactive activity tracker that captures symptoms, such as pain and washroom usage, and lifestyle habits, such as sleep and exercise, on a daily basis
• A practical support system as patients can easily share reports about their symptoms and activity tracking with healthcare providers through downloadable reports

“Clearbridge Mobile proudly supports Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s promise to discover cures and improve the lives of individuals living with Crohn’s or colitis. As a company, it is our goal to develop mobile applications that have a positive impact on the lives of the user, and this app certainly achieves that. As the first truly comprehensive app specifically developed for those with IBD, it is my hope that users find this tool plays a significant role in improving the management of their health and contributes to their overall well-being.” – Deepak Chopra, Co-Founder & CEO, Clearbridge Mobile

The MyGut app is available for download in Canada through the App Store and Google Play. 

About Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is the only national, volunteer-based charity focused on finding the cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improving the lives of everyone impacted by these diseases. We are the world’s second largest health charity funder of Crohn’s and colitis research, and our patient programs and advocacy efforts support the people affected by these chronic autoimmune diseases, which cause the body to attack healthy tissue, leading to the inflammation of all or part of the gastrointestinal tract. Visit crohnsandcolitis.ca for more information.