Assessment the of self-care level in patients with ulcerative colitis

Abstract

   Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the colon and rectum. Self-care is fundamental to managing the disease; however, there is a research gap in understanding the extent of these practices among patients in different contexts. Therefore, the current descriptive study assessed the level of self-care among ulcerative colitis patients. The study sample consisted of 100 patients selected using convenience sampling. The results showed that 73% of them had a high level of self-care related to nutrition, 63%, 64%, and 71% had a moderate level of self-care related to physical activity, mental health, and social status, respectively, and 60% had a moderate level of overall self-care. Statistically significant differences were found in the overall level of self-care among the sample based on age, educational level, and prior health education regarding self-care related to ulcerative colitis. The study recommended the need to design and implement specialized educational programs that focus on aspects that have shown moderate levels of self-care, such as physical activity, mental health, and social status, taking into account individual differences related to age and educational level.