Disease-related worries and concerns: a study on out-patients with inflammatory bowel disease

To investigate the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients' disease-related worries and concerns and their disease-related data, sociodemographic variables and perceived information level with respect to IBD.

Prospective evaluation of disease-related concerns.

Out-patient IBD clinic of a university hospital.

The study included 105 patients with IBD (72 with Crohn's disease and 33 with ulcerative colitis).

Worries and concerns were measured using the standardized 25-item rating form of IBD patient concerns; actual disease activity was assessed by physicians using the Crohn's disease and clinical activity indices. Sociodemographic and other disease-related data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Patients' perceived information level was measured using a visual analogue scale.

The issues of greatest concern to our patients were, in descending order of importance, having an ostomy bag (mean score +/- SD 63.6 +/- 38), the effects of medication (53.1 +/- 34), having surgery (51.6 +/- 36), the uncertain nature of the disease (46.5 +/- 32) and energy level (41.5 +/- 34). Patients with ulcerative colitis scored higher with respect to concern about loss of bowel control (P < 0.03). Disease-related worries and concerns correlated poorly with disease-related data (actual disease activity, severity of the course of IBD, diagnosis, disease duration or location, medication) but showed a significant negative correlation with patients' perceived information level about IBD (t = 0.2, P < 0.004). Lower information-level scores were associated with greater concerns.

We conclude that the patients' information level about IBD and disease-related concerns have to be considered in clinical practice. Better information about IBD and psychosomatic counselling for patients who show high levels of concern may improve their quality of life and clinical care.