Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Feb;29(3-4):305-319.
doi: 10.1111/jocn.15080. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Challenges of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-synthesis of patients' experiences

Clodagh Byron  1   2 , Nicola Cornally  2 , Aileen Burton  2 , Eileen Savage  2
Affiliations
Review

Challenges of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease: A meta-synthesis of patients' experiences

Clodagh Byron et al. J Clin Nurs. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To examine qualitative studies which reported on patients' challenges of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Background: There is a growing body of qualitative research focusing on the subjective experiences of patients with IBD. This research points to the daily challenges that patients experience which can relate to their physical and psychological health, as well as their social well-being, and may impact negatively on their lives. To date, there has been little attempt to synthesise these studies, and little is known about how patients manage the challenges they experience.

Design: A meta-synthesis was conducted, based on guidelines developed by Sandelowski and Barroso (Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research, Springer, New York, NY, 2007) and PRISMA (Int J Surg, 8, 2009, 336).

Methods: Searches were conducted within the CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection and SocINDEX databases to locate qualitative and mixed methodology studies. The retrieved articles were screened against predetermined inclusion criteria. Quality appraisal was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool for qualitative research (Int J Evid Based Healthc, 13, 2015, 179).

Results: Thematic analysis resulted in three themes: the unpredictability of living with IBD, the emotional turmoil of living with IBD and striving to maintain a normal life in managing IBD.

Conclusion: The greatest challenges for patients identified in this meta-synthesis were the physical symptoms associated with IBD. These impacted negatively on their psychological and social well-being and reduced their quality of life. There is a notable gap in research on patient experiences of managing the challenges identified in everyday life and to what extent they receive support from healthcare professionals.

Relevance to clinical practice: The results of this meta-synthesis offer insights into how the physical challenges of living with IBD, particularly in relation to symptoms, impact adversely on patients' psychological and social well-being. These insights are clinically relevant to healthcare professionals as a basis for supporting patients to manage their challenges.

Keywords: Crohn’s disease; colitis; inflammatory bowel diseases; meta-synthesis; patient experiences; qualitative research; ulcerative.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

REFERENCES

    1. Alexakis, C., Nash, A., Lloyd, M., Brooks, F., Lindsay, J. O., & Poullis, A. (2015). Inflammatory bowel disease in young patients: Challenges faced by black and minority ethnic communities in the UK. Health and Social Care in the Community, 23(6), 665-672. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12188
    1. Bannaga, A. S., & Selinger, C. P. (2015). Inflammatory bowel disease and anxiety: Links, risks, and challenges faced. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 23(8), 111-117. https://doi.org/10.2147/CEG.S57982
    1. Bemelman, W. A., Warusavitarne, J., Sampietro, G. M., Serclova, Z., Zmora, O., Luglio, G., … D’Hoore, A. (2018). ECCO-ESCP Consensus on Surgery for Crohn’s Disease. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis, 12(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjx061
    1. Bewtra, M., & Johnson, F. R. (2013). Assessing patient preferences for treatment options and process of care in inflammatory bowel disease: A critical review of quantitative data. Patient, 6(4), 241-255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40271-013-0031-2
    1. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

LinkOut - more resources