Preferences, Expectations and Management Satisfaction in IBD Patients: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Background: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), with increasing prevalence both globally and in Poland. Many aspects of a patients' everyday functioning and treatment remain underexplored. Methods: This study recruited adult patients with IBD hospitalized in the Department of Digestive Tract Diseases of the Medical University of Lodz, Poland. The data were collected between June and July 2025 using an author-developed questionnaire assessing patients' opinions on therapy, their expectations, and overall life satisfaction. Results: A total of 87 patients with IBD were included in the analysis. Overall, 59 patients (67.82%) reported strong satisfaction with their current treatment, indicating a generally positive perception of disease management. Higher treatment satisfaction was associated with patients' perception that their preferences were respected by the gastroenterologist. Further analysis revealed significant associations between different types of treatment, disease activity, and patient-reported outcomes. Those patients who were treated with biological agents more frequently reported complete satisfaction with the treatment (41/52 vs. 18/35; p = 0.014), low-to-moderate disease activity (42/52 vs. 19/35; p = 0.016), and fewer limitations in their social lives (16/52 vs. 20/35; p = 0.026) compared to the remaining group. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that those patients who reported remission were less likely to have their physical activity limited (27/55 vs. 27/32; p = 0.002). There were significantly more patients under 50 years of age than older patients getting biological therapy (48/74 vs. 4/13; p = 0.045). Additionally, women in the studied group had a higher rate of IBD-related surgical interventions compared to men (15/36 vs. 9/51; p = 0.026). Despite the high overall satisfaction with treatment and physician communication, 20 patients (22.99%) admitted to taking additional, non-prescribed medication or dietary supplements. Similarly, 21 (24.14%) patients modified treatment regimens by discontinuing the medication intake or changing the prescribed dose. Furthermore, 57 patients (65.52%) reported that they feared the possibility of surgical intervention. Nonetheless, the majority of patients who underwent surgical treatment (22/24; 91.67%) were satisfied with the results. Reported rates of undergoing regular colorectal cancer screening were also unsatisfactory-4/37 (10.81%) patients with disease duration > 8 years, suggesting inadequate awareness. Conclusions: Biological treatment can positively impact multiple aspects of patients' lives by lowering the disease's activity. Gastroenterologists should spend more time discussing patients' preferences and concerns, as well as explaining the colorectal cancer screening rules.