title: [Crohn's disease: The experience of living with a chronic illness].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of people with Crohn disease (CD), their life-changing events, the impact on their lives and the strategies used to cope with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study. In-depth interviews were carried out on 10 people affected by the disease in the province of Alicante (Spain). The collection, processing and analysis of data was performed using some phenomenological elements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experiences of those affected can be classified into four main areas: recognition of the illness; perceived consequences of the disease itself by CD affected patients; disease management, and the search for support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the life experience of people affected by CD appears to be essential for the effective management of chronic illnesses when planning specific health treatment programs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Sofía
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Sanjuán
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lillo-Crespo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Ángela
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Sanjuán-Quiles
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richart-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013030:Spain