Table 2 Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Time period

2009–2019

Studies outside these dates

Language

English (recognized language of international scientific debate)

Non-English

Type of article

Original research published in a peer review journal. Qualitative or quantitative studies; commentaries, letter, editorial

Articles that were not peer reviewed, only abstract available

Ethics clearance

Studies with approved ethics notification

Studies without approved ethics notification

Study focus

Transitions during the life cycle and therefore in the passages between childhood and adolescence, adolescence and young adulthood, young adulthood and adulthood, adulthood and mature age, mature age and old age

Studies that don't consider transitions during the life cycle

Literature focus

Studies that explicitly discuss socio-assistance and psychological needs, good practices for social assistance, the concept of Patient Engagement, studies on social and/or psychological strategies that enhance the patient's point of view and his experience, studies that enhance the patient's point of view and experience, studies that present a clear theoretical framework on the patients' experience, studies that focus on the experience of using the treatment, quality of life indicators and monitoring, in the context of chronic pathologies considered

Articles that didn't make a passing or token reference to engagement and psychological and/or social welfare needs. Articles that were discussion or personal opinion pieces

Population and sample

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, IBD; Ulcerative Colitis, UC; Crohn’s Disease, CD

All the other chronic diseases