Partners of patients with inflammatory bowel disease: how important is their support?

Figures & data

Figure 1 Study design.

Table 1 Patient characteristics

	Total n=101	Men n=53	Women n=48	P-value
Age, years (mean ± SD)	45.36±15.46	47.69±15.62	43.10±15.22	NS
Education
Academic	49 (50%)	25 (48.1%)	24 (52.2%)	NS
Nonacademic#	49 (50%)	27 (51.9%)	22 (47.8%)	NS
Children (n)
0	12 (15.6%)	2 (4.9%)	10 (27.8%)	0.017
1–2	34 (44.2%)	19 (46.3%)	15 (41.7%)
≥3	31 (40.3%)	20 (48.8%)	11 (30.6%)
Type of disease
Crohn’s disease	62	36	26
Ulcerative colitis	39	17	22
Disease duration, years (mean ± SD)	9.6±5.4	8.7±4.9	10.6±5.7	NS

Note:

# Denotes missing data for several participants for this item.

Abbreviations: NS, not statistically significant; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Distribution of patients’ answers

	Do you think that the involvement of your partner could help in dealing better with your disease?
	Yes		No
	n	%	n	%
Does your partner accompany you to your doctor’s visits?
Yes	39	46.4	2	16.7
No	45	53.6	10	83.3
Do you share your health problems with your partner?
Yes	85	98.8	7	58.3
No	1	1.2	5	41.7
Would you like your partner to receive more information about your disease from your doctor?
Yes	60	71.4	1	8.3
No	24	28.6	11	91.7
Would you like your partner to be more involved in your health decisions?
Yes	66	78.6	1	8.3
No	18	21.4	11	91.7

Table 3 Stratification of patients’ answers

						Do you think your partners’ involvement can help you deal better with IBD?
						Yes	No
Would you like your partner to be more involved in your health decisions?	Yes	Would you like your partner to receive more information about your disease from the doctor?	Yes	Do you share your health problems with your partner?	Yes	56	0
					No	0	0
			No	Do you share your health problems with your partner?	Yes	12	0
					No	0	1
	No	Would you like your partner to receive more information about your disease from the doctor?	Yes	Do you share your health problems with your partner?	Yes	7	1
					No	0	0
			No	Do you share your health problems with your partner?	Yes	11	6
					No	0	4

Abbreviation: IBD, inflammatory bowel disease.