Facts

Contact person:
Mario Dugonjic
Financer:
  • Clinical Hospital Center
  • Malmö University
Responsible at MaU:
Slobodan Zdravkovic
Project members at MaU:
External project members:
  • Adriano Friganovic – University of Rijeka
  • Goran Hauser – University of Rijeka
  • Katarina Phil Lesnovska – Linköping University
Time frame:
01 January 2025 - 01 April 2032
Faculty/department:
Research environment :
Research subject:

About the project 

The doctoral project is being conducted as part of the research platform "Being Young and Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)". Within this framework, the multifaceted interplay between diet, environmental factors, and lifestyle in the management of IBD among young adults is being explored. The aim of this project is to generate new scientific knowledge that addresses the specific challenges faced by this population, and to identify effective, evidence-based strategies to improve their health outcomes and overall quality of life. By adopting a holistic and patient-centered approach, the project investigates how probiotics, environmental stressors, and lifestyle modifications influence the progression and management of IBD.

A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is being employed across four interrelated studies, each designed to examine distinct yet interconnected dimensions of the lived experience of young people with IBD. These include the evaluation of dietary interventions (probiotic use), analysis of personal and environmental stressors through the lens of time geography, and the integration of technological tools to support self-management through physical activity tracking.

The outcomes of this research are expected to contribute the field of care science, particularly in the development of interdisciplinary and equitable approaches that reflect the complex needs of individuals living with chronic illness. Through the application of these findings in clinical and academic contexts, the project aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive care environment that empowers young adults with IBD to take an active role in their treatment, while promoting their psychosocial well-being and social participation.