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Women's experiences of sexual health when living with Rheumatoid Arthritis - an explorative qualitative study

Areskoug Josefsson, Kristina LU and Gard, Gunvor LU (2010) In BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 11.
Abstract
Background: The ICF core sets for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA) acknowledge sexual function and intimate relationships as important since the patients' sexual health can be affected by the disease. About 36-70% of all RA-patients experience a reduced sexual health, and their perceived problems are directly or indirectly caused by their disease. Physiotherapy is often used as non-pharmacological treatment for RA. Mobility treatment, pain reduction, and physical activities are often included in physiotherapy for patients with RA. The aim of the study was to explore sexual health in relation to physiotherapy in women living with RA. Method: An explorative qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach was performed.... (More)
Background: The ICF core sets for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA) acknowledge sexual function and intimate relationships as important since the patients' sexual health can be affected by the disease. About 36-70% of all RA-patients experience a reduced sexual health, and their perceived problems are directly or indirectly caused by their disease. Physiotherapy is often used as non-pharmacological treatment for RA. Mobility treatment, pain reduction, and physical activities are often included in physiotherapy for patients with RA. The aim of the study was to explore sexual health in relation to physiotherapy in women living with RA. Method: An explorative qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach was performed. The study consisted of ten interviews with women with RA. The analysis was performed according to Giorgi. Results: The main theme that emerged in the material was that the body and the total life situation affected sexual health. Three categories were included in the theme: 1) sexual health - physical and psychological dimensions, 2) Impacts of RA, and 3) Possibilities to increase sexual health - does physiotherapy make a difference? Conclusions: Sexual health was affected by RA in different ways for the informants. Possibilities to improve sexual health were improved partner communication and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can play an active role in improving sexual health for patients with RA. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
volume
11
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • wos:000283669800001
  • scopus:78049529719
  • pmid:20950461
ISSN
1471-2474
DOI
10.1186/1471-2474-11-240
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000), Division of Physiotherapy (Closed 2012) (013042000)
id
6f9ac735-5681-444a-bea9-7a9676b5bab4 (old id 1719715)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:10:34
date last changed
2022-03-14 04:25:07
@article{6f9ac735-5681-444a-bea9-7a9676b5bab4,
  abstract     = {{Background: The ICF core sets for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis ( RA) acknowledge sexual function and intimate relationships as important since the patients' sexual health can be affected by the disease. About 36-70% of all RA-patients experience a reduced sexual health, and their perceived problems are directly or indirectly caused by their disease. Physiotherapy is often used as non-pharmacological treatment for RA. Mobility treatment, pain reduction, and physical activities are often included in physiotherapy for patients with RA. The aim of the study was to explore sexual health in relation to physiotherapy in women living with RA. Method: An explorative qualitative interview study with a phenomenological approach was performed. The study consisted of ten interviews with women with RA. The analysis was performed according to Giorgi. Results: The main theme that emerged in the material was that the body and the total life situation affected sexual health. Three categories were included in the theme: 1) sexual health - physical and psychological dimensions, 2) Impacts of RA, and 3) Possibilities to increase sexual health - does physiotherapy make a difference? Conclusions: Sexual health was affected by RA in different ways for the informants. Possibilities to improve sexual health were improved partner communication and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy can play an active role in improving sexual health for patients with RA.}},
  author       = {{Areskoug Josefsson, Kristina and Gard, Gunvor}},
  issn         = {{1471-2474}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders}},
  title        = {{Women's experiences of sexual health when living with Rheumatoid Arthritis - an explorative qualitative study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-11-240}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1471-2474-11-240}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}