Australian inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients want biopsychosocial healthcare: a content analysis.

Abstract

Background & Aims: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a biopsychosocial illness. The prevalence of IBD is increasing in Australia, which presses the need to improve healthcare for patients with IBD. To date, no study has examined the views or preferences that Australian IBD patients have for their healthcare. This article reports on Australian patient’s with IBD perspectives and preferences for healthcare. Methods: Patients with IBD (n=477) responded to an open-ended survey question ‘What changes if any would you make for your IBD healthcare? And why?’ within a larger, previously conducted cross-sectional survey. These previously unanalysed responses were content analysed with open coding using NVivo. Results: Nine categories were formulated. Respondents expressed a desire to have greater access to (1) multidisciplinary services (17.70%), (2) proactive healthcare with increased follow up and long-term care planning (8.50%), and (3) treatment, services and specialist care (16.40%). Participants also requested (4) better communication (23.52%), and (5) whole of person care (10.24%). In addition, participants wanted (6) health promotion (i.e. public awareness and support groups) (10.42%). Finally, a proportion of participants were (7) happy with their healthcare (9.72%). Two minor categories – (8) administrative issues, (2.34%) and (9) improving the hospital experience also emerged (1.04%). Conclusions: The results support existing research outlining multidisciplinary care is better suited to meet the needs of patients with IBD. Healthcare professionals should focus on facilitating patients’ access to multidisciplinary services (i.e. psychologists, IBD nurses and dieticians), and increasing proactive care (i.e. follow up and long-term care planning). Asking patients about their mental health and communicating respectfully should also be priorities.