A qualitative study of malaysian university students’ experiences on selfcare of gastritis: effects, challenges, and coping strategies / Wan Hasliza Wan Mamat ... [et al.]

Introduction: Gastritis is a common problem, impacting 51 to 78% of people worldwide. It is thought to be caused by lifestyle changes, drugs, stress, and life habits. Gastritis is perceived to contribute to emotional problems, relationship difficulties and reduced quality of life. Despite the high prevalence of gastritis (56.6 to 62%), there are no reports of Malaysian experiences with gastritis. Methods: This study uses a qualitative approach to explore the lived experiences of health science university students regarding the self-care of gastritis. Nine participants with gastritis were recruited using purposive sampling. The participants participated in audiorecorded, semi-structured, and face-to-face or online interviews. All the interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants conveyed their experiences regarding effects, challenges, and coping mechanisms. Generally, all participants encountered similar gastritis symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and bloating. Gastritis affected the participants regarding limited physical activity, physiological changes, sleep cycle, and food and drink intake. The participants also encountered emotional imbalance, decreased academic and clinical performance, and financial problems. The effects of gastritis and managing its challenges greatly affected their daily lives, and they developed coping strategies to control the symptoms. Conclusion: This study highlights the self-care of health science undergraduate students with gastritis based on the perspectives of the young and educated generations. Future research could explore the self-care in gastritis among the deprived population and its disadvantages when medical outreach is not applicable.