The quality of life in inflammatory bowel disease. The analysis and validation of a new research tool

Inflammatory bowel diseases include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. They are chronic diseases, with periods of acute illness and of remission in irregular time intervals. Among the aetiological factors genetics, environment and immune reactions are stressed. Independently of the aetiological factors, immunological mechanisms play a significant role in the pathogenesis of both diseases. The symptoms of the disease depend on the location, size and the degree of inflammatory changes. Inflammatory bowel disease appears most frequently in people between 20 and 40 years of age, during the time of full social and professional activity. Persistent ailments of the digestive system and other organs significantly limit their bio-psycho-social functioning and negatively influence their quality of life. The aim of this paper is to present a literature review regarding the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, specific measurement tools and cultural adaptation of the Rating Form of IBD Patient Concerns (RFIPC).