Determining the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and comfort in inflammatory bowel patients

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to reveal the effect of gastrointestinal symptoms on comfort levels in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. 115 patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease between January 15, 2023, and May 15, 2023, were included in this study. Comfort level was evaluated using the General Comfort Scale Short Form. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and regression analyses. Results: The mean age in the study was The mean age in the study was 41.29 (standard deviation (SD)= 12.81) year. The mean comfort level was 98.93 (SD=19.06). There was a difference between gastrointestinal symptom burden scores according to gender (t = 3.048, p = 0.003), marital status There was a difference between gastrointestinal symptom burden scores according to gender (independent sample t-test (t) = 3.048, p = 0.003), and the presence of chronic disease (t = -4.115, p < 0.001). There is a weak negative relationship between age and comfort level There is a weak negative relationship between age and comfort level (pearson correlation (r) = -0.191, p = 0.041). Conclusion: This study emphasized that gastrointestinal symptom burden is an important determinant of comfort level in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and comfort decreases as gastrointestinal symptom load increases.