Attitude and Influencing Factors on Exercise in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a Qualitative Study

Objectives: To explore the attitudes towards exercise, factors influencing exercise and exercise-related needs of patients with moderately to severely active inflammatory bowel disease.

Design: A qualitative phenomenological research.

Setting: The study was conducted at a comprehensive tertiary hospital in Suzhou, China, which is a secondary care facility.

Participants: The study included 17 participants who met specific inclusion criteria: aged between 16 and 70 years, diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and in a state of moderate to severe disease activity. Participants were required to be capable of clear self-expression and provide voluntary consent. Exclusion criteria included the presence of cancer or severe physical illness, cognitive impairment or mental illness.

Interventions: Semistructured interviews were used to collect data.

Results: The exercise experiences of participants with moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease yielded three themes: attitudes towards exercise, factors influencing exercise and exercise-related needs.

Conclusion: The majority of participants had negative attitudes towards exercise during periods of moderate to severe activity, largely influenced by disease activity, symptom management, inadequate knowledge of exercise and uncertainty about the value of exercise. Of particular note, professional guidance was generally recognised as stimulating a willingness to exercise positively, and participants demonstrated a strong need for professional guidance. Therefore, it is recommended that clear exercise guidelines for inflammatory bowel disease be constructed to ensure that patients receive safe and effective guidance to develop a healthy lifestyle in order to maximise the benefits of exercise.