Fear of Food in Gastrointestinal Disease: A Framework Based on the Interpreted Experiences of Adults with Diverticular Disease

Abstract

The patient voice is missing from the evidence regarding the dietary management of diverticular disease. This study aimed to determine the patient experiences of imposed dietary restrictions during the medical treatment of acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis methodology guided participant selection, data collection, and the data analysis of a qualitative interview study. Four interviews were conducted with adults admitted to hospital with acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis. Six themes were interpreted. Five themes were found to inter-relate as a cycle, which was embedded within a driving theme of ‘corrupted diet-disease knowledge of patients, family, and healthcare providers’. The cycle commenced with a theme of ‘fear of food’, which was followed by the theme of an ‘internal locus of control with rigid constraint’. ‘Loss of culture and social stigma’ ensued, which led to ‘vulnerability amid self-perceived failure’, and finally ‘overshadowed psychological pain’. The cycle recommenced with a renewed fear of food. The thematic phenomenon of the ‘Fear of Food in Gastrointestinal Disease Framework’ was developed. Adults with diverticular disease and at least one hospitalisation for acute, uncomplicated diverticulitis were interpreted to experience a cyclical thematic phenomenon represented by the ‘Fear of Food in Gastrointestinal Disease Framework’. Further qualitative research is required to evaluate the transferability of the framework to other conditions.