Jones, Katherine, Naisby, Jenni, Baker, Katherine and Tew, Garry ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8610-0613 (2024) Reactions, reality, and resilience in adults with Crohn’s disease: a qualitative study. Crohn's & Colitis 360, 7 (1).

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Abstract

Background
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a lifelong condition that poses unique challenges. This study reports findings from a person’s perspective of living with CD to help enhance the understanding of an individual’s specific care and support needs.

Methods
Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of adults with Crohn’s disease recruited from Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Data were analyzed after data collection using thematic analysis.

Results
Forty-one (68% female) participants aged 49.1 ± 12 years with a disease duration between 1 and 55 years were interviewed. Three overarching themes emerged, along with 12 subthemes: (1) reactions to presenting symptoms, emotions, and challenges at diagnosis; (2) reality of living with the condition, seeking information, decision making, psychological challenges, experiencing symptoms/complications during remission and the impact on social life, education, employment, and relationships; (3) Resilience involving emotional adaptations, strategies on self-management, social comparisons as a means of coping and barriers to resilience.

Conclusions
The results highlight the complex health journey and challenges faced by people living with Crohn’s disease and provide health care professionals with a greater insight into the psychological challenges and emotional complexities of the condition to facilitate a more holistic approach to planning care.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1093/crocol/otaf003
Subjects:	R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
School/Department:	Research Office
Institutes:	Institute for Health and Care Improvement
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/11217

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