Perceptions and Experiences of Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Abstract

Objectives: The present research aimed to explore and comprehend the experiences of ulcerative colitis patients and how they feel, think, and react in response to it.

Method: The whole study was conducted by adopting qualitative research method called Interpretative phenomenological Analysis, by using constructivist approach. Data collected from outpatient department of a public hospital of Lahore in November, 2020. A purposive sample of six ulcerative colitis women (diagnosed with Proctosigmoiditis and left sided colitis), with age range of 24-30 years, was taken. First of all, semi-structured interviews (individually with each participants) were carried out which lasted for 50-60 minutes. Interviews were taped, transcribed, and separately analyzed. Themes were extracted and then clustered to from super ordinate themes for each interview. Finally, a master table of themes was developed to depict the clear picture of participants’ lived experiences. To ensure the validity of results, views of three experts were taken on every step of analysis to interpret the true meaning of participants’ words and intrinsic views.

Results: Findings resulted in three major themes including somatic complaints/physical cramps accompanied by rectal bleeding, anomalous colon cramps, dyspepsia, IV infusions, repeated medical examinations etc. another superordinate theme “Emotional/psychological outbursts, included subthemes, anxiety disorders, carcinophobia, trypanophobia and Nosocomephobia. The third major theme was “Aversive/escape reactions”.

Conclusion: Interviewee’s major concerns were that they were experiencing a lot of physical complications including inconvenient medical checkups. They also reported psychological disturbances like intense fear of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). This increased risk resulted in persistent inflammation of the colon. Thus, the current research explained the sufferings of UC patients to convert the attention of physicians to engage them in counseling and therapeutic programs to combat well with their illness.