Stigma and its correlates among patients with Crohn's disease: A cross-sectional study in China.
Dandan He, Lanzhen He, Yijuan Yuan and 4 others
PMID 37545781WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients with Crohn's disease reported moderate to high stigma, particularly those over 40, with lower incomes, or who felt the public knew little about their condition.
Higher self-efficacy was linked to less stigma, suggesting confidence in managing the disease may help patients cope better with social shame.
Key findings
01Approximately 85.6% of participants reported moderate to high levels of stigma, with financial insecurity and internalized shame being the most prominent dimensions.
02Self-efficacy and social support were both negatively associated with stigma, meaning patients with higher confidence in managing their disease or more support reported lower stigma.
03Perceived public awareness of the disease, age, family income, and self-efficacy were the main factors influencing stigma levels in the multivariate analysis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was single-center and conducted in a relatively developed city (Guangzhou), so results may not apply to patients in other regions or healthcare settings. The cross-sectional design means the study cannot prove that low self-efficacy causes high stigma or vice versa; it only shows they are linked. Stigma is a sensitive topic, and some patients may have underreported their true feelings due to shame or a desire to appear socially acceptable, potentially biasing the results. The study excluded patients with stomas, mental illnesses, or other major comorbidities, so the findings do not reflect the experience of those groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no competing interests, and the study had no external funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that increasing self-efficacy will definitely reduce stigma. This was an observational study showing a link, not a trial testing an intervention. The direction of cause is unknown, and the effect of any single factor is hard to separate from the others.