Crohn's disease and nursing role in patient care

Abstract

Crohn’s disease is caused by multiple factors like genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, autoimmune disorder and environmental risk factors. Proper diagnosis of the disease could be challenging. Patients experience diverse symptoms that could affect all parts of the digestive system. Symptoms can affect the patient’s quality of life (QoL) enormously, especially in the relapse phase of the disease. Physical and mental health of patients is related and have effect on each other. The nurse plays an essential role of CD patient healthcare, supports patients and family members, monitors for the health and possible complications and inflammations, makes connection between patients and doctors, and participates in therapy administration process.

The aim of the present thesis is to describe nursing interventions and procedures in a combined treatment approach for improving the health and quality of life of Crohn's disease patients so that the remission stage stays long stable.

A descriptive literature review is used as the method in the current thesis. Articles were searched in Pubmed, Science Direct, CINAHL and EBSCO databases. Deductive qualitative analysis is performed for finding publications that respond to the scientific question and main idea of the thesis.

Nursing interventions and procedures are very diverse in the Crohn’s disease treatment and management. Interventions and procedures presented in the thesis include different diets and ways of their administration, fatigue and incontinence interventions, surgery procedures, drainages and wound care, prevention of inflammation, complication treatment manipulations, and procedures that improve the quality of life (QoL) of the patient. Physical activity, coping with stress, and analysis of risk factors and their impact on CD progression should be considered important. Immune system modulation is affected by many factors and their disturbance could directly affect CD progression state. Proper medication and surgery interventions, probiotics and fluids use, enough sleep and physical activity are important for the CD patient’s well-being and reduce progression and complications in relapse phase of CD. Nurse’s role as part of a multidisciplinary team and CD patient care is significant, irreplaceable, and important.