Title: Reconstructing self from the illness: a constructivist grounded theory study of
posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease
Version: 1 Date: 16 May 2023
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting study with the potential to contribute to the application of post-traumatic
growth theory to understand the Chinese patient’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s
disease. Though the results would be relevant and meaningful to the readers and/or health care
practitioner, it does require substantive modifications/improvements to be more meaning.
1. Background/introduction
This is a qualitative study with the aim to construct a model or theory to understand the Chinese
women’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s disease, using a Post-traumatic Growth
(PTG) theoretical framework and Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological
approach. While the study overall comprises the basic components in this kind of study-literature
review, however, it lacks an in-depth engagement of the literature. Given the nature of the
grounded theory study it would be better to clearly contextualise your study in Chinese culture/
Chinese women rather than generalise to the whole population with Crohn’s disease.
There are a few published studies focusing on developing the PTG theory  in other disease such
as  cancer, it would be great if you can provide some explanation to justify the importance of
your work given PTG theoretical model within Chinese background has been developed.
2. 2.5 Ethical considerations
More information needed regarding ethical consideration. For example, your ethical
considerations during and after the interview session, what will you do if the participant want
to withdraw or demonstrate some distress during/after the interview etc,.
3. Result
As it stands, the analysis of data does not reflect in-depth descriptions and coherence in
interpretation. Authors did not mention if any computer software was used for data management,
i.e., how data were managed. • The patients quotes were not rich or substantive to reflect or
support authors statements. For each quote, it would be enhance your paper if your provide some
explanation and interpretation, rather than just listed all the quotes. Overall, the quotes presented
do not provide strong support of the core concept and the categories. It’s difficult to understand
the process on how the core concept reconstructing self was arrived and how it is related to PTG
4. Discussion.
More in-depth engagement and analysis of the literature would be helpful, e.g., how does culture
influence the process. The development of theory needs to be flushed out more by engaging the
literature more fully, e.g., integrate with literature on Chinese cultural factors or some studies on
PTG among Chinese patients. Any similarities/differences compared with PTG process among
other illness.
Title: Reconstructing self from the illness: a constructivist grounded theory study of
posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease
Version: 1 Date: 16 May 2023
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting study with the potential to contribute to the application of post-traumatic
growth theory to understand the Chinese patient’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s
disease. Though the results would be relevant and meaningful to the readers and/or health care
practitioner, it does require substantive modifications/improvements to be more meaning.
1. Background/introduction
This is a qualitative study with the aim to construct a model or theory to understand the Chinese
women’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s disease, using a Post-traumatic Growth
(PTG) theoretical framework and Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological
approach. While the study overall comprises the basic components in this kind of study-literature
review, however, it lacks an in-depth engagement of the literature. Given the nature of the
grounded theory study it would be better to clearly contextualise your study in Chinese culture/
Chinese women rather than generalise to the whole population with Crohn’s disease.
There are a few published studies focusing on developing the PTG theory  in other disease such
as  cancer, it would be great if you can provide some explanation to justify the importance of
your work given PTG theoretical model within Chinese background has been developed.
2. 2.5 Ethical considerations
More information needed regarding ethical consideration. For example, your ethical
considerations during and after the interview session, what will you do if the participant want
to withdraw or demonstrate some distress during/after the interview etc,.
3. Result
As it stands, the analysis of data does not reflect in-depth descriptions and coherence in
interpretation. Authors did not mention if any computer software was used for data management,
i.e., how data were managed. • The patients quotes were not rich or substantive to reflect or
support authors statements. For each quote, it would be enhance your paper if your provide some
explanation and interpretation, rather than just listed all the quotes. Overall, the quotes presented
do not provide strong support of the core concept and the categories. It’s difficult to understand
the process on how the core concept reconstructing self was arrived and how it is related to PTG
4. Discussion.
More in-depth engagement and analysis of the literature would be helpful, e.g., how does culture
influence the process. The development of theory needs to be flushed out more by engaging the
literature more fully, e.g., integrate with literature on Chinese cultural factors or some studies on
PTG among Chinese patients. Any similarities/differences compared with PTG process among
other illness.
Please review this paper.
user
Title: Reconstructing self from the illness: a constructivist grounded theory study of
posttraumatic growth in patients with Crohn’s disease
Version: 1 Date: 16 May 2023
Reviewer's report:
This is an interesting study with the potential to contribute to the application of post-traumatic
growth theory to understand the Chinese patient’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s
disease. Though the results would be relevant and meaningful to the readers and/or health care
practitioner, it does require substantive modifications/improvements to be more meaning.
1. Background/introduction
This is a qualitative study with the aim to construct a model or theory to understand the Chinese
women’s adjustment process of living with Crohn’s disease, using a Post-traumatic Growth
(PTG) theoretical framework and Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological
approach. While the study overall comprises the basic components in this kind of study-literature
review, however, it lacks an in-depth engagement of the literature. Given the nature of the
grounded theory study it would be better to clearly contextualise your study in Chinese culture/
Chinese women rather than generalise to the whole population with Crohn’s disease.
There are a few published studies focusing on developing the PTG theory  in other disease such
as  cancer, it would be great if you can provide some explanation to justify the importance of
your work given PTG theoretical model within Chinese background has been developed.
2. 2.5 Ethical considerations
More information needed regarding ethical consideration. For example, your ethical
considerations during and after the interview session, what will you do if the participant want
to withdraw or demonstrate some distress during/after the interview etc,.
3. Result
As it stands, the analysis of data does not reflect in-depth descriptions and coherence in
interpretation. Authors did not mention if any computer software was used for data management,
i.e., how data were managed. • The patients quotes were not rich or substantive to reflect or
support authors statements. For each quote, it would be enhance your paper if your provide some
explanation and interpretation, rather than just listed all the quotes. Overall, the quotes presented
do not provide strong support of the core concept and the categories. It’s difficult to understand
the process on how the core concept reconstructing self was arrived and how it is related to PTG
4. Discussion.
More in-depth engagement and analysis of the literature would be helpful, e.g., how does culture
influence the process. The development of theory needs to be flushed out more by engaging the
literature more fully, e.g., integrate with literature on Chinese cultural factors or some studies on
PTG among Chinese patients. Any similarities/differences compared with PTG process among
other illness.
assistant