Qualitative study about the perception of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A descriptive observational study

The main aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) regarding the need for specialised nursing care, based on their opinions from their own experience. A qualitative design with an inductive approach based on constructivist grounded theory was conducted using a questionnaire. Almost 63 % of respondents felt that a nursing intervention was necessary for the patient's self-care and supported the care of the environment of the patient with IBD in need of care. Approximately 75 % of respondents felt that the initial nursing consultation following diagnosis of IBD was essential to address all aspects of the patient's daily life and environment for quality care and follow-up. More than 87 % of respondents felt it was important for nurses to recognise the need for referral to other professionals when caring for IBD patients and their environment to maximise their wellbeing. The percentage of females who answered yes to this last question was significantly higher than that of males (p = 0.025). Some 67.1 % of respondents felt that nurses should be responsible for informing the patient and those around them of the steps to be taken following diagnosis and what these consist of. More than 94 % of all respondents felt that IBD patients and their carers should have a plan and time for specific and appropriate education on this topic. More than 80 % of respondents agreed that the progression, monitoring, and management of their IBD should be supervised by a nurse in addition to their specialist doctor to achieve an optimal level of quality. In conclusion, this study shows that patients suffering from IBD consider the role of the nurse to be crucial in the diagnosis, management and treatment of their disease and highlights the need for specialised nurses in inflammatory bowel disease who can provide patients with high-quality healthcare.