Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), require long-term, multidisciplinary care. Within this model, the nurse-patient relationship is essential, yet little is known about mutuality-defined as shared trust, collaboration, and reciprocity. This study assessed nurse-patient mutuality in IBD using the Nurse-Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness (NPM-CI) scale. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in Italian IBD centers. Adult outpatients with confirmed IBD completed the NPM-CI patient version, a 20-item validated tool assessing three dimensions: developing and going beyond, being a point of reference, and deciding and sharing care. Descriptive statistics were used. RESULTS: Among 453 patients, 449 (94%) completed the NPM-CI. The mean total score was high (81.2 ± 13.3). UC patients reported higher scores than CD patients. The highest-rated items concerned respect for privacy and attention to well-being, while lower scores reflected limited emotional sharing and clarification of information from other professionals. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate nurse-patient mutuality in IBD using a validated tool. Findings highlight the central role of IBD nurses in building therapeutic relationships. Enhancing emotional communication and shared decision-making could further strengthen mutuality and improve care outcomes.