Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic conditions affecting millions of individuals in the United States. The symptoms are well-documented and can be debilitating. How these chronic gastrointe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.hqlo.com/content/10/1/25 |
| _version_ | 1818351621219811328 |
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| author | McCormick Jennifer B Hammer Rachel R Farrell Ruth M Geller Gail James Katherine M Loftus Edward V Mercer Mary Tilburt Jon C Sharp Richard R |
| author_facet | McCormick Jennifer B Hammer Rachel R Farrell Ruth M Geller Gail James Katherine M Loftus Edward V Mercer Mary Tilburt Jon C Sharp Richard R |
| author_sort | McCormick Jennifer B |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic conditions affecting millions of individuals in the United States. The symptoms are well-documented and can be debilitating. How these chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions impact the daily lives of those afflicted is not well documented, especially from a patient's perspective.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we describe data from a series of 22 focus groups held at three different academic medical centers with individuals suffering from chronic GI conditions. All focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Two research team members independently analyzed transcripts from each focus group following an agreed upon coding scheme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One-hundred-thirty-six individuals participated in our study, all with a chronic GI related condition. They candidly discussed three broad themes that characterize their daily lives: identification of disease and personal identity, medications and therapeutics, and daily adaptations. These all tie to our participants trying to deal with symptoms on a daily basis. We find that a recurrent topic underlying these themes is the dichotomy of experiencing uncertainty and striving for control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Study participants' open dialogue and exchange of experiences living with a chronic GI condition provide insight into how these conditions shape day-to-day activities. Our findings provide fertile ground for discussions about how clinicians might best facilitate, acknowledge, and elicit patients' stories in routine care to better address their experience of illness.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:40:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-688bc14e8a0c45719fa1a481f6a36505 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7525 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:40:39Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health and Quality of Life Outcomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-688bc14e8a0c45719fa1a481f6a365052022-12-21T23:35:15ZengBMCHealth and Quality of Life Outcomes1477-75252012-03-011012510.1186/1477-7525-10-25Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own wordsMcCormick Jennifer BHammer Rachel RFarrell Ruth MGeller GailJames Katherine MLoftus Edward VMercer MaryTilburt Jon CSharp Richard R<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are chronic conditions affecting millions of individuals in the United States. The symptoms are well-documented and can be debilitating. How these chronic gastrointestinal (GI) conditions impact the daily lives of those afflicted is not well documented, especially from a patient's perspective.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we describe data from a series of 22 focus groups held at three different academic medical centers with individuals suffering from chronic GI conditions. All focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. Two research team members independently analyzed transcripts from each focus group following an agreed upon coding scheme.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One-hundred-thirty-six individuals participated in our study, all with a chronic GI related condition. They candidly discussed three broad themes that characterize their daily lives: identification of disease and personal identity, medications and therapeutics, and daily adaptations. These all tie to our participants trying to deal with symptoms on a daily basis. We find that a recurrent topic underlying these themes is the dichotomy of experiencing uncertainty and striving for control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Study participants' open dialogue and exchange of experiences living with a chronic GI condition provide insight into how these conditions shape day-to-day activities. Our findings provide fertile ground for discussions about how clinicians might best facilitate, acknowledge, and elicit patients' stories in routine care to better address their experience of illness.</p>http://www.hqlo.com/content/10/1/25Chronic gastrointestinal conditionsInflammatory Bowel DiseaseIrritable Bowel SyndromePatient adaptationSymptom experience |
| spellingShingle | McCormick Jennifer B Hammer Rachel R Farrell Ruth M Geller Gail James Katherine M Loftus Edward V Mercer Mary Tilburt Jon C Sharp Richard R Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Chronic gastrointestinal conditions Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patient adaptation Symptom experience |
| title | Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words |
| title_full | Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words |
| title_short | Experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions: in their own words |
| title_sort | experiences of patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions in their own words |
| topic | Chronic gastrointestinal conditions Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patient adaptation Symptom experience |
| url | http://www.hqlo.com/content/10/1/25 |
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