Family Planning in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

This study explores the lived experiences of family planning for women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their partners during the reproductive stages of pre-conception, pregnancy and the postnatal period through qualitative interviews. Insights from existing literature alongside findings from interviews and focus groups with patients and healthcare providers to develop an intervention to address the issues and support needs as identified by study participants.

This study will be conducted in 3 phases: Phase 1: Literature review (0-9 months). The research literature on pregnancy outcomes and factors affecting family planning decisions of women and men diagnosed with IBD will be systematically searched and reviewed. The findings will be used to prepare a topic guide to be used in the interviews with women and their partners. Phase 2: Interview study (10-20 months). A topic guide prepared in Phase 1 will provide a structure for in-depth interviews to explore the experience of family planning by women diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their partners. Detailed face-to-face interviews will be voice recorded and transcribed verbatim. Each interview may last approximately 45-60 minutes, giving participants sufficient time to share their experience. A total of 24-30 women diagnosed with IBD will be interviewed, where possible selecting 8-10 women at different family planning stages (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post-delivery). 3-4 women's partners for in each group, to explore partner's perspective of the pregnancy or pre-conception experience. Phase 3: Intervention development with focus group interview (21-24 months). The Phase 2 findings will be used to prepare a draft of the intervention to address the issues and support needs as identified by study participants. A group of patients (3-4) and healthcare practitioners (3-4) will be recruited to take part in a joint discussion (focus group interview) on intervention acceptability, and the comments will be used to further develop the intervention.