BINOMIAL TOBACCO-ULCERATIVE COLITIS, WHAT IS KNOWN AND HOW TO ACT: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY
Abstract
Background. Under the concept of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) various pathologies are included such as Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Research carried out indicates an evolution of UC in a more benevolent way due to smoking, without knowing what it is due to. The objective of this study has been to determine knowledge and attitudes that patients with UC have in relation to the effects of tobacco on their disease.
Methodology. A cross-sectional descriptive study was proposed. An ad hoc questionnaire was designed to carry out the investigation. This questionnaire was administered to members of the Association of Crohn's Patients and Ulcerative Colitis of León (ACCU-León). The questionnaire consisted of 29 items grouped into various headings. The corresponding statistical analysis was performed through the IBM SPSS 23.0 software. To validate the differences as statistically significant, a value of p ≤ 0.05 should be given.
Results. 32 participants were recruited. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, 56.3% were women, 59.4% lived in urban settings and 34.4% showed, as an educational level, university-type studies. Regarding the characteristics of UC, 59.4% had been diagnosed for less than 15 years, and "almost the entire colon", with 62.5%, proved to be the predominant location. In relation to smoking, 18.8% declared themselves smokers, 37.5% non-smokers, and 43.7% ex-smokers. The “worsening CU” option, when talking about tobacco, was answered by 21.9%. 59.4% answered that health professionals had not reported the effect of tobacco on UC.
Conclusions. From the analyzed results can be extracted, on the one hand the fact that the patients do not know how tobacco influences the UC, and on the other hand that the health professionals did not inform about the implications of smoking with respect to their disease. It is therefore necessary to insist on both the information and the training of the patients and healthcare professionals.
