Barriers and Motivations for Obtaining an Anti-Inflammatory Plant-Based Diet in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Qualitative Interview Study

¹Department of Clinical Sciences, Aalborg University, Denmark

²Center for Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark

*Corresponding author: Mette Holst, Professor, PhD, Head of Clinical Nutrition Research, Centre for Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg University Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Denmark, Sdr. Skovvej 5.1, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark, Phone: +4527113236, ORCHID: 0000-0002-7458-9458; E-mail: [email protected].

Received Date: January 12, 2023

Published Date: January 25, 2024

Citation: Arvidsson LB, et al. (2024). Barriers and Motivations for Obtaining an Anti-Inflammatory Plant-Based Diet in Patients with Crohn’s Disease: A Qualitative Interview Study. Mathews J Nutr Diet. 7(1):30.

Copyrights: Arvidsson LB, et al. © (2024).

ABSTRACT

Background: Previous research indicated a positive effect of anti-inflammatory, plant-based diets as complementary to treatment in patients with Crohn’s disease, but compliance to dietary changes may be difficult to obtain. Aim: To investigate patients’ motivation and barriers to adhere to a 12-week dietary intervention with an anti-inflammatory plant-based diet. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 11 patients with Crohn’s disease in biological therapy. The subjects investigated were “barriers”, “motivation”, and “means of support required for compliance”. Results: Patients’ motivators regarding a lifestyle change with anti-inflammatory and plant-based foods were “Belief in the significance of diet on disease”; “Wish for reduction of medical treatment”; “General health benefits” and “A supportive social network. Barriers were “An unsupportive network”; “Discussions about diet with healthcare professionals were found to be unhelpful”; “Social events” and “Expectation to long for certain foods”. Participants found they would need “Personalized guidance” and “Written information material and recipes” to comply with a plant-based anti-inflammatory diet intervention. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with Crohn’s disease are primarily positive but need guidance and support from peers and specialists in the lifestyle change towards an anti-inflammatory and plant-based diet. The most significant obstacle was having an un-supporting network and fear of being less social.

Keywords: Patient Preference, Symptom Burden, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Lifestyle, Nutrition, Complimentary Therapies, Patient Compliance.