Factors Affecting Health Promoting Behaviors and Self-Efficacy in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Abstract

Currently, the majority of health problems result from personal behaviors. Most diseases, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, can be prevented or managed through applying health-promoting behaviors, to improve self-efficacy. This study aimed to assess factors affecting health-promoting behaviors and self-efficacy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease; using a descriptive and crosssectional design at the general medical outpatient clinics of Suez-Canal University Hospitals, side-by-side with Ain Shams University Hospitals, from the beginning of November, 2021, to the end of January, 2022, on a purposive sample of 60 adult patients. Three tools were operated: A Structured Interview Questionnaire to assess clinical and socio-demographic information of the patients, in addition to exploring factors affecting the health-promoting behaviors and self-efficacy; the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Self-efficacy Scale, to assess confidence in managing disease-related responsibilities and current health-promoting behaviors; and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II. Results showed that around half of patients suffering from Crohn's disease, the most common factor affecting health-promoting behaviors and self-efficacy is stress management, and 83% of patients have low self-efficacy levels. Conclusion:Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile scores in patients with IBD are more than 2.00 and some are closer to 4.00, which denote a healthy lifestyle and a good general level of self-efficacy.Recommendations: Patients should encouraged to take due note of their health behaviors and learn from their own and other patients' experiences, with professional advice and support strategies to promote health and optimize self-efficacy.