{"paper_id":"4cc37363-1b26-4650-a921-258c70bcf717","body_text":"Grey A et al, 2023  Integrated care for endometriosis: a qualitative study investigating nutrition \nand lifestyle factors . International Journal of Integrated Care  23(S1):392 DOI: \ndoi.org/10.5334/ijic.ICIC2 3392 \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nPOSTER ABSTRACT   \nIntegrated care for endometriosis: a qualitative study investigating nutrition \nand lifestyle factors. \n23rd International Conference on Integrated Care, Antwerp, Flanders, 22-24 May 2023 \n \nAimee Grey1, Justine Bold,  \n \n1: University of Worcester , Worcester , United Kingdom  \nIntroduction: Endometriosis is estimated to affect around one in 10 women in the UK and an \nestimated 200 million women worldwide. Despite evidence in the current literature around the \nbenefits of using dietary and lifestyle interventions there has been limited research into \nincorporating these into person -centred care for the condition. Studies have supported a \nreduction in endometriosis pain when anti-inflammatory and anti-oestrogen dietary interventions \nwere introduced. Also pain reduction has been reported in small studies on gluten free diets. \nFurther studies have also identified that diets high in cruciferous vegetables, fresh fruit and \nantioxidants helped to re duce oestrogen, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes. The \nresearcher team comprised of two researchers, both diagnosed with endometriosis. So, this is a \npatient-led research project, devised as self-management of the condition has been important in \nmanaging both of the researchers’ symptoms.  \nAims: To explore the potential role for nutrition and lifestyle medicine in endometriosis as a self-\nmanagement tool, and the barriers and challenges women with endometriosis face which prevent \nthem from implementing beneficial nutrition and lifestyle changes.  \nMethods: A qualitative methodology was used, with an anonymous online survey including open \nquestions as the form of data collection. Snowball and purposive sampling were used to obtain \nparticipants. The i nclusion criteria were women who live in the UK, 18 years or over who have \ndiagnosed endometriosis. The data was analysed using inductive coding and thematic analysis. \nResults: A total of 42 participants completed the online survey. Eight subordinate themes were \nderived from 80 data codes and developed into four main superordinate themes: 1. Advice and \nsupport provided from healthcare professionals or nutrition professionals, 2. Diet and lifestyle \nchanges already implemented and effects, 3. Endometriosis sy mptoms and 4. Barriers and \nmotivation to change. The study found that women with diagnosed endometriosis received either \nno or poor -quality advice from their medical or health care professionals in relation to dietary \nchanges. Most of the advice sought and  implemented was from a variety of self -researched \nsources such as books, online websites and endometriosis support groups. Women had tried and \nreported benefits from a variety of different dietary or lifestyle interventions including, removal of \ngluten, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, walking, yoga, Pilates, and meditation. There \nappeared to be very little or no professional support for patients with endometriosis in terms of \nimplementing person centred nutrition or lifestyle goals.  \n \n\n  Grey: Integrated care for endometriosis: a qualitative study investigating nutrition and lifestyle factors . \nConclusion: The existing dietary advice to women with endometriosis remains poor and \nparticipants specifically highlighted their desire for more evidence -based support with this. \nIdentifying barriers to implementing dietary and lifestyle interventions will  likely assist and \nfacilitate the implementation of nutrition and lifestyle person -centred goals. Due to the wide \nvariety of symptoms women with endometriosis can experience, a more individualised nutrition \nand lifestyle approach alongside existing care can provide a key role in improving practice in this \narea. More studies are needed on both nutritional and lifestyle approaches to managing \nendometriosis. This project has demonstrated that patient -led research has the potential to \ninform practice and shape research priorities.","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}