Abstract
Background
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a lifelong condition that poses unique challenges. This study reports findings from a person’s perspective of living with CD to help enhance the understanding of an individual’s specific care and support needs.
Methods
Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of adults with Crohn’s disease recruited from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Data were analysed after data collection using thematic analysis.
Results
Forty-one (68% female) participants aged 49.1±12 years with a disease duration between 1 and 55 years were interviewed. Three overarching themes emerged, along with 12 subthemes: (1) Reactions to presenting symptoms, emotions, and challenges at diagnosis; (2) Reality of living with the condition, seeking information, decision making, psychological challenges, experiencing symptoms/complications during remission and the impact on social life, education, employment, and relationships; (3) Resilience involving emotional adaptations, strategies on self-management, social comparisons as a means of coping and barriers to resilience.
Conclusions
The results highlight the complex health journey and challenges faced by people living with Crohn’s disease and provide health care professionals with a greater insight into the psychological challenges and emotional complexities of the condition to facilitate a more holistic approach to planning care.
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a lifelong condition that poses unique challenges. This study reports findings from a person’s perspective of living with CD to help enhance the understanding of an individual’s specific care and support needs.
Methods
Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of adults with Crohn’s disease recruited from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Data were analysed after data collection using thematic analysis.
Results
Forty-one (68% female) participants aged 49.1±12 years with a disease duration between 1 and 55 years were interviewed. Three overarching themes emerged, along with 12 subthemes: (1) Reactions to presenting symptoms, emotions, and challenges at diagnosis; (2) Reality of living with the condition, seeking information, decision making, psychological challenges, experiencing symptoms/complications during remission and the impact on social life, education, employment, and relationships; (3) Resilience involving emotional adaptations, strategies on self-management, social comparisons as a means of coping and barriers to resilience.
Conclusions
The results highlight the complex health journey and challenges faced by people living with Crohn’s disease and provide health care professionals with a greater insight into the psychological challenges and emotional complexities of the condition to facilitate a more holistic approach to planning care.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | otaf003 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Crohn's and Colitis 360 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 16 Jan 2025 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2025 |
Keywords
- Crohn’s disease
- qualitative
- health-related quality of life