Healthcare experiences and quality of life of adults with coeliac disease: a cross‐sectional study

Background Coeliac disease affects many aspects of quality of life and treatment can be burdensome. Access to healthcare services is necessary for the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease. The present study aimed to investigate the healthcare experiences of adults with coeliac disease and explore the relationship between experiences and quality of life. Methods A cross‐sectional postal survey was sent to 800 members of Coeliac UK and contained questions about diagnosis, dietary advice, follow‐up appointments, prescriptions, knowledge and information provision, and quality of life [Coeliac Disease Assessment Questionnaire (CDAQ)]. Descriptive statistics were calculated. A total problem score summarised the number of problems experienced with healthcare services. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to investigate experiential and demographic factors associated with quality of life. Results An average of 5.5 problems with healthcare services was reported, with females reporting significantly more problems than males (6.5 versus 5.0, P = 0.003). The total problem score was significantly related to the CDAQ overall index score and all CDAQ dimension scores (stigma, dietary burden, symptoms, social isolation, and worries and concerns) (P