Disease Perception and Coping Style of Patients with Diastasis Recti
Abdominis Using the Biopsychosocial Model: An Interview Study
Abstract
Objective:Discussing the influence of Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA)
on patients’ social, psychological, and biological experiences, It tries
to direct the patients’ attention to DRA. Meanwhile, how patients deal
with DRA is summarised to provide effective measures to help them,
provide reference for medical staff in managing DRA. Design: An
observational and descriptive study design Setting: Zhejiang Province,
China Sample:Female diagnosed with DRA. Methods: A purposive sampling
method was adopted when selecting female DRA participants for
semi-structured interviews based on their disease perception with the
Colaizzi seven-step analysis method being used for analysis. Main
outcome measure: DRA people’s perception and response to disease
Results: In the interviews, three themes, and 10 sub-themes, were
extracted 1) Inadequate disease perception (including a lack of
aetiology cognition, incomplete prevention knowledge, and insufficient
treatment knowledge), 2) The disease as a daily inconvenience (including
body image disorder, abdominal muscle weakness, poor pelvic floor
strength, backache, and a psychological burden), and 3) Varying
attitudes and management responses to DRA (including positive and
negative responses). Conclusion: Patients awareness of their DRA should
be improved to consider whether any of their physical or mental
discomfort experienced in daily life is related to this condition. DRA’s
management should be holistic and comprehensive— including a simple
symptomatic treatment— along with emotional, psychological, and
behavioural coping strategies. Tweetable Abstract: DRA is common among
women and has adverse effects on patients. The exploration of DRA helps
to promote disease perception of DRA and promote women’s health.