Patient Health Communication Mediating Effects Between Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Gastrointestinal Worry in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Issue 5 (6th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Varni, James W.; Shulman, Robert J.; Self, Mariella M.; Saeed, Shehzad A.; Patel, Ashish S.; Nurko, Samuel; Neigut, Deborah A.; Saps, Miguel; Zacur, George M.; Dark, Chelsea V.; Bendo, Cristiane B.; Pohl, John F.
• Is Part Of: Inflammatory bowel diseases. Volume 23:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 704
• Page End: 711
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06
• Subjects: inflammatory bowel disease -- Crohn's disease -- ulcerative colitis -- gastrointestinal symptoms -- worry -- patient communication -- PedsQL; Inflammatory bowel diseases -- Periodicals; Colitis, Ulcerative -- Periodicals; Crohn Disease -- Periodicals; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.344
• DOI: 10.1097/MIB.0000000000001077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1078-0998

Abstract

Abstract : Background: To investigate the effects of patient health communication regarding their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to their health care providers and significant others in their daily life as a mediator in the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and gastrointestinal worry in pediatric patients. Methods: The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Gastrointestinal Worry, and Communication Scales, and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales were completed in a 9-site study by 252 pediatric patients with IBD. Gastrointestinal Symptoms Scales measuring stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea and patient communication were tested for bivariate and multivariate linear associations with Gastrointestinal Worry Scales specific to patient worry about stomach pain or bowel movements. Mediational analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized mediating effects of patient health communication as an intervening variable in the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and gastrointestinal worry. Results: The predictive effects of gastrointestinal symptoms on gastrointestinal worry were mediated in part by patient health communication with health care providers/significant others in their daily life. In predictive models using multiple regression analyses, the full conceptual model of demographic variables, gastrointestinal symptoms (stomach pain, constipation, or diarrhea), and patient communication significantly accounted for 46, 43, and 54 percent of the variance in gastrointestinal worry (all P s < 0.001), respectively, reflecting large effect sizes. Conclusions: Patient health communication explains in part the effects of gastrointestinal symptoms on gastrointestinal worry in pediatric patients with IBD. Supporting patient disease-specific communication to their health care providers and significant others may improve health-related quality of life for pediatric patients with IBD.