Aim: This study aimed to explore the barriers prevent patients with inflammatory bowel disease from perform self-care by understanding their individual experiences.
Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was adopted, with semi-structured interviews conducted with a purposive sample 16 of IBD patients who expressed willingness to participate, both sexes, diagnosed with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis guided by inductive approach.
Results: The results explored five main themes and twenty-six sub themes that represent the most prominent barriers faced by patients including main themes: Insufficient knowledge about 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 interrelated in a way that negatively impacts patients' adherence to health behaviors related to self-care.
Conclusion: This study revealed a set of interconnected barriers that impede the ability of patients with IBD to effectively manage self-care. The most prominent barriers included lack of knowledge about the disease, physical symptoms, and difficulty adhering to a diet and medications. These findings emphases the need for comprehensive interventions that address cognitive, physical, psychological, and social aspects, through targeted health education, psychological support, and enhanced communication between patients and healthcare providers.