Abstract

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease involves major changes where psychological and physical stress becomes a part of ones daily life. The ability to adapt and cope well with the situation, increases the chances of feeling satisfied with life. There are various management strategies that people with IBD use to cope with their daily life.

Aim: The aim of this study is to describe strategies that people with inflammatory bowel disease use to manage their daily lives. A further purpose is to describe the study group in the included articles.

Method: A descriptive literature review. This study is based on 12 scientific articles, searched in the databases Cinahl and Pubmed. Keywords used were; Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Management strategies and Self-management.

Main Results: A positive attitude stimulate energy and hope which in turn prevents people with IBD from being controlled by their disease. Help with practical aspects such as, seeing a therapist, charring information with close ones and complementary alternative methods have been shown to have positive effects. Warm baths, speaking to one`s self and use of analgesic drugs or other stimulation is used as pain relief (Audulv 2013). A passive attitude, avoidance behavior and allowing disease to take over ones life is less common. Normalization and understanding that there are less fortunate people in worse conditions, is also a management strategy.

Conclusion: Management strategies used by people with IBD in everyday life are problem and emotionally oriented coping strategies. According to the authors, the result is of great importance for a better understanding between nurses and patients with IBD. Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease, coping strategies and management.