Patients’ experience of living with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A hermeneutic phenomenology

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with a wide range of effects on the individual’s quality of life, emotional state, and identity. Given the lack of knowledge about patients’ perceptions of life with irritable bowel syndrome, this study aimed to describe and interpret patients' experience of living with irritable bowel syndrome Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach on 15 patients with irritable bowel syndrome who referred to three central clinics. The data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with the participants who were selected through purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was carried out using Van Manen’s six-step methodological framework as a guide. Besides, MAXQDA software was used for data management. Results: The analysis of the data yielded four themes and eight subthemes. The patients’ experiences of living with IBS were manifested through the themes of “crisis and transient release” (with “storm in the corporeality” and “relief” subthemes); “surrender and harassment” (with “mandatory submitting” and “feeling of helplessness” subthemes); “looking for adaptation” (with “struggle in obtaining insight” and “seeking help from coping strategies” subthemes); and “different self-perceptions” (with “threatened self” and “deep self-knowledge” subthemes). Conclusion: Understanding the life experience of IBS patients can be effective in improving the interdisciplinary medical-care programs and reducing their psychological, social, and physical problems. Therefore, carrying out more studies to promote the quality of life of IBS patients is suggested.