The Dietary Journey in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Grounded Theory From Medicalization to Empowerment

Key Points

• To develop a framework for understanding the dietary journey of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
• Conducted a grounded theory study to explore dietary experiences in IBD patients.
• Identified distinct phases of the dietary journey using interviews and patient self-reports.
• Formulated the IBD Dietary Journey Assessment Tool (IDJAT) to classify patient phases.
• Outlined specific phases of the dietary journey for IBD patients.
• Enabled clinicians to provide tailored dietary guidance based on patient phase.
• Promoted a shift from generic dietary advice to personalized, journey-informed support.