Doctor-patient relationship and quality of life in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: an exploratory study of the potential mediating role of illness perceptions and acceptance
Open accessAbstract
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterised by unpredictable bowel symptoms. These can be difficult to manage, consequently impacting quality of life (QoL). In addition, a strained doctor-patient relationship is independently reported in the qualitative literature. Given the doctor is often the first port of call for people with IBS, a difficult relationship may influence subsequent IBS management. Research suggests illness perceptions are important in determining IBS outcomes in therapy; however, their association with doctor-patient relationship and QoL is yet to be investigated. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the association between these constructs in IBS, as well as potential mediation by illness perceptions. Online questionnaires measuring doctor-patient relationship, illness perceptions, acceptance and QoL, were completed by 167 participants who reported an IBS diagnosis (144 female, mean age = 44.22 years, SD = 15.91 years). Bootstrapped pathway analysis was used to model the relationship and mediation effects. There was a significant positive correlation between patient-doctor relationship and QoL, r = .258, n = 167, p = .001. There was a significant indirect effect between doctor-patient relationship and QoL through illness coherence and acceptance (bootstrapped estimate = .058, 95%CI Lower-Upper = .02, .095, p = .002). No other indirect effects were observed in combination with good fit indices for the other illness perceptions. Findings suggest a doctor-patient relationship which fosters mutual understanding and helps patients make sense of symptoms, increases their ability to manage their IBS in a psychologically flexible manner, subsequently helping them maintain their QoL.
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An empathic approach can improve quality of life and symptoms, reduce healthcare visits and enhance adherence to treatment.
“An empathic approach can improve quality of life and symptoms, 110 reduce healthcare visits and enhance adherence to treatment.108 111”
From British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (2021) · cites this paper as [110]
The Discussion (page unavailable) says that helping patients make sense of their IBS could improve quality of life, and the paper links a mutually understanding doctor–patient relationship with maintaining quality of life. It does not report that an empathic approach improves symptoms, reduces healthcare visits, or increases treatment adherence; its exploratory findings also do not establish that the approach causes improvement. (LLM, conf=0.88)
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- Authors
- Hulme, K., Chilcot, J., & Smith, M. A.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Hulme, Katrin
- Venue
- Psychology, Health & Medicine
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-12-20
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 674-684
- ISSN
- 1354-8506 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3966
- OpenAlex
- W2779652145
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 2.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Psychology Health & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) (submittedVersion)
- UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Patient-Provider Communication in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Keywords
- irritable bowel syndrome, physician-patient relationship, quality of life, illness perception, acceptance of illness, illness coherence, mediation, functional gastrointestinal disorders, psychological flexibility
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physician-Patient Relations, Quality of Life, Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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