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Belonging, happiness, freedom and empowerment-a qualitative study of patients' understanding of health in early rheumatoid arthritis

Landgren, Ellen LU orcid ; Mogard, Elisabeth LU orcid ; Bremander, Ann LU ; Lindqvist, Elisabet LU orcid ; Nylander, Maria and Larsson, Ingrid LU orcid (2024) In BMC Rheumatology 8(1).
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory joint disease, that influences patients' health in different ways, including physical, social, emotional, and psychological aspects. The goal of rheumatology care is to achieve optimal health and personalised care and therefore, it is essential to understand what health means for patients in the early course of RA. The aim of this study was to describe the understanding of health among patients with early RA.

METHODS: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. Phenomenography is used to analyse, describe, and understand various ways people understand or experience a phenomenon, in this study, patients' understandings of... (More)

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory joint disease, that influences patients' health in different ways, including physical, social, emotional, and psychological aspects. The goal of rheumatology care is to achieve optimal health and personalised care and therefore, it is essential to understand what health means for patients in the early course of RA. The aim of this study was to describe the understanding of health among patients with early RA.

METHODS: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. Phenomenography is used to analyse, describe, and understand various ways people understand or experience a phenomenon, in this study, patients' understandings of health. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 patients (22 women and nine men, aged (38-80) with early RA, defined as a disease duration of < 1 year, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for 3-7 months. The phenomenographic analysis was conducted in 7 steps, and the outcome space presents the variation in understanding and the interrelation among categories. In accordance with the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) recommendations, a patient research partner participated in all phases of the study.

RESULTS: The analysis revealed four main descriptive categories: 'Health as belonging' was described as experiencing a sense of coherence. 'Health as happiness' was understood as feeling joy in everyday life. 'Health as freedom' was understood as feeling independent. 'Health as empowerment' was understood as feeling capable. Essential health aspects in early RA are comprised of a sense of coherence, joy, independence, and the capability to manage everyday life.

CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients' perception of health in early RA encompasses various facets, including a sense of belonging, happiness, freedom, and empowerment. It highlighted that health is multifaceted and personal, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging this diversity in providing person-centred care. The findings can guide healthcare professionals to deepen patients' participation in treatment goals, which may lead to better treatment adherence and health outcomes.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMC Rheumatology
volume
8
issue
1
article number
29
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:38937849
  • scopus:85197432530
ISSN
2520-1026
DOI
10.1186/s41927-024-00399-2
project
Better care for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (eRA)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2024. The Author(s).
id
98adc07e-5671-4368-99b9-213abd4cdc69
date added to LUP
2024-08-02 15:52:01
date last changed
2024-08-05 08:54:50
@article{98adc07e-5671-4368-99b9-213abd4cdc69,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory joint disease, that influences patients' health in different ways, including physical, social, emotional, and psychological aspects. The goal of rheumatology care is to achieve optimal health and personalised care and therefore, it is essential to understand what health means for patients in the early course of RA. The aim of this study was to describe the understanding of health among patients with early RA.</p><p>METHODS: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. Phenomenography is used to analyse, describe, and understand various ways people understand or experience a phenomenon, in this study, patients' understandings of health. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 patients (22 women and nine men, aged (38-80) with early RA, defined as a disease duration of &lt; 1 year, and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for 3-7 months. The phenomenographic analysis was conducted in 7 steps, and the outcome space presents the variation in understanding and the interrelation among categories. In accordance with the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology's (EULAR) recommendations, a patient research partner participated in all phases of the study.</p><p>RESULTS: The analysis revealed four main descriptive categories: 'Health as belonging' was described as experiencing a sense of coherence. 'Health as happiness' was understood as feeling joy in everyday life. 'Health as freedom' was understood as feeling independent. 'Health as empowerment' was understood as feeling capable. Essential health aspects in early RA are comprised of a sense of coherence, joy, independence, and the capability to manage everyday life.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients' perception of health in early RA encompasses various facets, including a sense of belonging, happiness, freedom, and empowerment. It highlighted that health is multifaceted and personal, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging this diversity in providing person-centred care. The findings can guide healthcare professionals to deepen patients' participation in treatment goals, which may lead to better treatment adherence and health outcomes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Landgren, Ellen and Mogard, Elisabeth and Bremander, Ann and Lindqvist, Elisabet and Nylander, Maria and Larsson, Ingrid}},
  issn         = {{2520-1026}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Rheumatology}},
  title        = {{Belonging, happiness, freedom and empowerment-a qualitative study of patients' understanding of health in early rheumatoid arthritis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41927-024-00399-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s41927-024-00399-2}},
  volume       = {{8}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}