A web-based survey on self-management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Japan

Masakazu Nagahori; Takahito Imai; Mikiko Nakashoji; Ai Tairaka; Jovelle L Fernandez

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0287618

A web-based survey on self-management for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Japan

PLoS One. 2023 Jul 17;18(7):e0287618. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287618. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Masakazu Nagahori¹, Takahito Imai², Mikiko Nakashoji², Ai Tairaka², Jovelle L Fernandez²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
² Japan Medical Office, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

Background/aims: Self-management (SMN) is a recognized component of care for chronic conditions, yet its importance in the context of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unclear. This study evaluates the status of SMN and its relationship with quality of life (QOL) in Japanese patients with IBD.

Methods: A web-based survey was conducted among adult (≥20 years old) Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Registered members of an online IBD information platform completed a 45-item survey covering demographics, diet, treatment, physical condition, stress management, financial concerns, support services, and QOL. SMN was operationally defined by dietary and lifestyle behaviours, and contingency analysis was used to test for associated factors. Individual-level contributions to SMN were identified with logistic regression.

Results: There were 372 responses to the survey (211 with UC, 161 with CD). Approximately 60% of participants practiced SMN and these patients were 4-24% more likely to report positive QOL than those who did not. SMN was more common in patients with CD than those with UC. SMN practice was also associated with IBD-related hospitalisation/surgery and consultation with others about IBD (e.g. physicians, nurses, patients).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest an association between the practice of SMN and positive QOL in patients with IBD in Japan.

Copyright: © 2023 Nagahori et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Colitis, Ulcerative* / complications
Colitis, Ulcerative* / therapy
Crohn Disease* / complications
Crohn Disease* / therapy
Humans
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / complications
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases* / therapy
Internet
Japan
Quality of Life
Self-Management*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) funded this collaborative research, including supporting professional data analysis and medical writing services. Imai T and Nakashoji M are employees of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, and Tairaka A and Fernandez JL were employees of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd during the conduct of the study.