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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Nov 13;19(11):e0313127.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313127. eCollection 2024.

Participants' perspectives on a multimodal stress management and comprehensive lifestyle modification program for patients with Crohn's disease-A qualitative interview study

Christoph Schlee  1   2   3 , Christine Uecker  1   2 , Özlem Öznur  1   2 , Nina Bauer  1   2 , Jost Langhorst  1   2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Participants' perspectives on a multimodal stress management and comprehensive lifestyle modification program for patients with Crohn's disease-A qualitative interview study

Christoph Schlee et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that is prevalent worldwide and associated with reduced quality of life for patients. Multimodal therapy approaches, which emphasize lifestyle modifications such as mindfulness and stress reduction, can be promising in enhancing health-related quality of life for IBD patients. However, research on multimodal therapy approaches for CD remains insufficient.

Method: This qualitative interview study is part of a mixed-methods approach that is embedded in a randomized controlled trial. It investigates the impact of a comprehensive 10-week day clinic lifestyle modification program on the health condition and quality of life of CD patients. Telephone interviews (n = 19) were conducted three months after the program to examine individuals' viewpoints on the intervention, including perceived changes and transfer of elements into daily life. Reflexive thematic analysis was performed using MAXQDA software.

Results: The results indicate that CD can have very individual and comprehensive impacts (psychological, physical, social), leading to reduced perceived quality of life and well-being. By participating in the program, patients wanted to find self-help options to complement conventional pharmacotherapy and actively manage their disease. Patients expressed high satisfaction with the program, feeling it provided valuable support for daily disease management. They were able to integrate adequate therapy elements into their routines to complement their care. Patients recognized significant improvements in various domains, mainly in the psychological domain, e.g., improved self-efficacy, symptom management, and, also partly physical/symptomatic and social improvements.

Conclusion: A multimodal stress reduction and lifestyle modification day clinic appears to be beneficial as a complementary therapy for CD patients. It offers additional options and helps patients to address individual symptoms and needs, improve their understanding of the disease and their quality of life. Although promising, further research is needed to assess its long-term effects.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05182645.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: JL was a speaker for Repha GmbH, Techlab Inc., Falk Foundation, Takeda, Celegene GmbH and Willmar Schwabe and received research funding from Repha GmbH, Techlab Inc., Falk Foundation and Willmar Schwabe. The sponsors had no role in the design and execution of the study, interpretation of the results or writing of the manuscript. The remaining authors declared that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Overall study design.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Theme map–main results.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Associated data

Grants and funding

This study as part of the project “Integrative Medizin in Bayern 2020 (IM-BAY 2020)” was supported by the Bavarian State Ministry for Health and Care (Germany) by means of the funding program Gesund.Leben.Bayern, https://www.stmgp.bayern.de/ Reference Number GE7-2497-GLB-19-V4. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.