Young adults' perceptions of living with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

King's (1981, 1995b) Theory of Goal Attainment provided the theoretical framework for this qualitative, descriptive study exploring the perceptions of five young adults living with chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Through in-depth interviews, the participants had the opportunity to share their perceptions of what mattered most as they lived the experiences of this illness. The uniqueness and individuality of perceptions, the challenges of chronic bowel disease, recommendations for the future, and participants' expectations of healthcare professionals were explored. Persons with chronic IBD are faced with many life-disrupting challenges that profoundly affect their personal, interpersonal, and social systems. This research study supported the premise that understanding the patient's perspective and reaching perceptual accuracy through human-to-human interaction is critical to healthcare outcomes and achievement of the young adult's health goals.