Worries and concerns of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in Belgium – a validation of the Dutch rating form

Abstract

Objectives

Worry is the most common psychological complaint among patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This study aimed to translate and test the psychometric properties the Rating Form of IBD Patient Concerns (RFIPC) among Dutch-speaking patients with IBD in Belgium. It also aimed to describe worries and concerns, and to examine possible differences in worry patterns between patients with different disease types and disease activities.

Methods

The RFIPC was translated into Dutch following the guidelines of the Rome Foundation and was completed by patients with Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 336) and ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 160). To test concurrent validity, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used. Factor structure was examined with confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

The four-factor structure including subscales ‘impact of the disease’, ‘sexual intimacy’, ‘complications of the disease’ and ‘body stigma’ was confirmed in the Dutch sample. All factors had high internal consistency (>.70). Correlations with DASS-21 suggest good concurrent validity, all rs>.30, ps<.001. No differences in the RFIPC scores were observed between patients with CD and UC. Patients with active disease (53%) had higher scores than patients in remission (47%). Across all groups, the order of top concerns was consistent and included worries about energy level, side effects of medication, having an ostomy bag/surgery, and uncertain nature of the disease.

Conclusions

The Dutch version of the RFIPC is a valid and reliable measure of IBD-specific worries and concerns which can be used in both research and clinical settings.

Keywords:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• disease-specific concerns
• worry

Disclosure statement

M. Ferrante reports financial support for research: Amgen, Biogen, Janssen, Pfizer, Takeda; Consultancy: Abbvie, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celltrion, Ferring, Janssen, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, Sandoz, Takeda and Thermo Fisher; Speakers fee: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Chiesi, Falk, Ferring, Janssen, LameproMSD, Mylan, Pfizer, Sandoz, Takeda and Truvion Healthcare. L. Van Oudenhove reports financial support for research from Nestlé and consultancy for Danone. G. Van Assche received honoraria and/or research support from: Abbvie, MSD, Ferring, Janssen, Roche, Takeda and Pfizer.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the ‘Asthenes’ long-term Methusalem structural funding from the Flemisch Government under Grant METH/15/011; Research Foundation Flanders under Grant G071918N. S. Vermeire and M. Ferrante are Senior Clinical Investigators of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO), Belgium. L. Van Oudenhove is an associate research professor of the KU Leuven Special Research Fund.