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Volume 17, Issue 3 (2025)
Iran J War Public Health 2025, 17(3): 243-251 |
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Received: 2025/06/3 | Accepted: 2025/07/15 | Published: 2025/07/19
Received: 2025/06/3 | Accepted: 2025/07/15 | Published: 2025/07/19
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Obeid B, Al-hussein I. Barriers to Self-Care in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Iran J War Public Health 2025; 17 (3) :243-251
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Authors
B. Obeid *1, I.Q.K. Al-hussein1
1- Department of Adult Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, University of Kufa, Kufa, Iraq
Abstract (1433 Views)
Aims: This study aimed to explore the barriers that prevent patients with inflammatory bowel disease from performing self-care by understanding their individual experiences.
Participants & Methods: This descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 16 inflammatory bowel disease patients who expressed a willingness to participate. The sample included both sexes and individuals diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by an inductive approach.
Findings: There were five main themes and twenty-six sub-themes that represented the most prominent barriers faced by patients. The main themes were insufficient knowledge about the disease, physical symptoms as barriers to self-care, psychological and social barriers to effective self-care, medication adherence barriers, and dietary adherence barriers. These barriers were found to be interrelated in a manner that negatively impacts patients’ adherence to health behaviors related to self-care.
Conclusion: The most prominent barriers to self-care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are a lack of knowledge about the disease, physical symptoms, and difficulties adhering to a diet and medications.
Participants & Methods: This descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 16 inflammatory bowel disease patients who expressed a willingness to participate. The sample included both sexes and individuals diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by an inductive approach.
Findings: There were five main themes and twenty-six sub-themes that represented the most prominent barriers faced by patients. The main themes were insufficient knowledge about the disease, physical symptoms as barriers to self-care, psychological and social barriers to effective self-care, medication adherence barriers, and dietary adherence barriers. These barriers were found to be interrelated in a manner that negatively impacts patients’ adherence to health behaviors related to self-care.
Conclusion: The most prominent barriers to self-care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease are a lack of knowledge about the disease, physical symptoms, and difficulties adhering to a diet and medications.
Keywords:
Patients [MeSH], Self-Care [MeSH], Inflammatory Bowel Disease [MeSH], Physical Barriers [MeSH], Knowledge [MeSH]
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