Knowledge of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients about Their Disease in the North Moroccan Region

Abstract

Patients' level of knowledge about their disease plays an essential role in therapeutic management, by facilitating patients' acceptance of the diagnosis, their active participation in treatment and improved compliance. Few studies have been conducted in Morocco to assess the level of knowledge of IBD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of IBD patients in the northern region of Morocco. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study over a period of 5 months in the hepato-gastroenterology department of the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Tangiers. Our study involved a series of 100 patients with confirmed IBD. A questionnaire was drawn up and given to the patients. Results: The main results of our study reveal a considerable lack of knowledge among our patients about their disease, covering all areas of the disease and more specifically the treatment and complications aspect. This lack of knowledge can be attributed in part to the high rate of illiteracy in our setting. Conclusion: These results underline the importance of raising patients' awareness of their disease by setting up educational workshops tailored to their level of understanding. These workshops aim to improve patients' knowledge, encourage adherence to treatment and, ultimately, improve their quality of life. Keywords: Inflammatory bowel diseases, patient knowledge