Lifestyle-Based Intervention and Experiences of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Concurrent Embedded Mixed Methods Design

Abstract

Introduction: In the past two decades, there has been a growing line of research on the possible effects of psychological interventions on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to evaluate the qualitative validity of a lifestyle-based intervention in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) by examining their experiences. Methods: This study employed a concurrent embedded mixed methods design. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted in the form of a clinical trial that applied a lifestyle-based intervention to patients with ulcerative colitis. The patients' experiences were assessed twice through the focus group interviews. The data from both interviews (posttest and follow-up phases) were analyzed using thematic network analysis. Results: Based on the results of this study, 3 global themes, 10 organizing themes, and 21 basic themes were identified and summarized in three thematic networks of benefits, barriers, and disadvantages. Benefits included satisfaction with attending the meetings, knowledge acquisition, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes, and partial physical improvement; barriers included physical symptoms, need for retraining, giving importance to the topic, and restrictions in physical activities; and the disadvantages included the negative impact of the group and the negative impact of the training program. Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed the qualitative validity of a lifestyle-based intervention in a group of patients with ulcerative colitis by demonstrating the educational and therapeutic effects of the intervention and its acceptability. © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences.