Merel Tebbens

Ms. Merel Tebbens


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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24 November 2024 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
CHCeline Hos
Celine Hos
MTMerel Tebbens
Merel Tebbens
TBTjitske Bezema
Tjitske Bezema
JBJos A. Bosch
Jos A. Bosch
AKAletta Desiree Kraneveld
Aletta Desiree Kraneveld
AVAnje Te Velde
Anje Te Velde
Background and Aims: To improve quality of life (QoL), patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) often self-experiment with lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications. The nature (e.g., type of interventions, expectations, perceived efficacy) of these single-subject experiments has not been systematically investigated. Method: We used Participatory Narrative Inquiry (PNI), a structured qualitative method, to obtain information about these experiments through patient stories. Results: We demonstrate that PNI can be a method to collect and analyze IBD patient ideas and experiences regarding lifestyle and nutritional factors in a structured manner to reveal valuable insights for personal and scientific follow-up research. Patients report rest, (psychological) balance, and a change in diet when describing times when they experienced a better QoL. When focusing on diet, patients reported a considerable number of food products that were experienced as beneficial by one person but detrimental by another. Conclusions: PNI is a suitable method to obtain information about self-experimentation. An insight that was attained was that personalized (dietary) guidance that supports the individual is needed.