Park, Yong Eun, Jin Lee, Jongha Park, Joon Hyuk Choi, Nae Yun Heo, Seung Ha Park, Yoon Kyoung Lee, & Tae Oh Kim (2021, July). Subjective needs and thoughts for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: Applying Q methodology. Korean Journal of Gastroenterology, 78(1), 37-47.

(doi: 10.4166/kjg.2021.053) (Link: https://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2021.053) (Access: http://www.kjg.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.4166/kjg.2021.053)

Abstract: Backgrounds/Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that requires lifetime management. Many studies have attempted to establish questionnaires and/or parameters to assess the quality of care for IBD patients. However, no study to date has investigated patients using the Q-methodology, which is subjective and has been studied systematically, to identify and categorize their opinions and subjective thinking about their disease and treatment. We have therefore aimed here to conduct a preliminary study of the Q-methodology to investigate the subjective thinking of IBD patients in Korea. Methods: Q-methodology, a method of analyzing the subjectivity of questionnaire items, was examined in this study. Inputs from 50 IBD patients were classified into 34 normalized statements using a 9-point scale with a normal distribution. The collected data were analyzed using the QUANL PC program. Results: Using the Q-methodology, IBD patients were classified into type I, II, III, and IV treatment needs: medical staff-dependent, relationship-oriented, information-driven, and social awareness, respectively. Conclusions: The subjective needs of IBD patients and their thoughts about the treatment can be classified into four types. Our findings suggest that we can establish a systematic strategy for personalized care according to patient type.

Tae Oh Kim <kto0440@paik.ac.kr> is in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Published by qmethodorg