Inflammatory bowel diseases patients suffer from significant low levels and barriers to physical activity: The “BE-FIT-IBD” study

Table 5 Beliefs about physical activity of patients included

Question (n = 219)	Completely agree	I think it is irrelevant	Partially agree	Partially disagree	Completely disagree	P value1
I think my IBD is a block to doing regular PA	12 (5.5%)	65 (29.7%)	58 (26.5%)	28 (12.8%)	56 (25.6%)	0.957
The treatment I am taking for my IBD is a block to performing regular PA	5 (2.3%)	78 (35.6%)	15 (6.8%)	16 (7.3%)	105 (47.9%)	0.520
I believe that engaging in regular PA may reactivate my IBD or, if already active, make it worse	61 (27.9%)	43 (19.6%)	18 (8.2%)	19 (8.7%)	78 (35.6%)	< 0.001
I believe that performing regular PA may result in complications in my IBD (e.g., fistula formation, abscesses or other)	13 (5.9%)	45 (20.5%)	21 (9.6%)	26 (11.9%)	114 (52.1%)	0.527
I believe that performing regular PA can improve my IBD	28 (12.8%)	55 (25.1%)	87 (39.7%)	6 (2.7%)	43 (19.6%)	0.942
I believe that performing regular PA can protect me from new IBD recurrence	25 (11.4%)	74 (33.8%)	87 (39.7%)	18 (8.2%)	15 (6.8%)	0.538
My family doctor adequately informed me regarding the possibility of performing regular PA	52 (23.7%)	45 (20.5%)	51 (23.3%)	18 (8.2%)	53 (24.2%)	0.936
My gastroenterologist adequately informed me regarding the possibility of performing regular PA	76 (34.7%)	26 (11.9%)	80 (36.5%)	10 (4.6%)	27 (12.3%)	0.871
People close to me (e.g., relatives and friends) have repeatedly urged me to conduct a regular PA	91 (41.6%)	22 (10%)	69 (31.5%)	18 (8.2%)	19 (8.7%)	0.795
People close to me (relatives, friends) have repeatedly advised/banned me from conducting regular PA	0 (%)	35 (16%)	29 (13.2%)	24 (11%)	131 (59.8%)	0.291
Before receiving the diagnosis of IBD, I was more inclined to perform regular PA, but now, upon receiving the diagnosis, I feel less convinced to perform PA	41 (18.7%)	45 (20.5%)	45 (20.5%)	13 (5.9%)	75 (34.2%)	< 0.001

¹The P value was calculated by checking the difference in the distribution of different variables between the two identified groups (i.e., active and inactive patients).

IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease; PA: Physical activity. Data are expressed as numerosity (%). Significant P values are indicated in bold.