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. 2017 Jun 7:5:2050312117713647.
doi: 10.1177/2050312117713647. eCollection 2017.

Quality of life in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: A phenomenographic study

Karina Malm  1   2   3   4 , Stefan Bergman  1   2   5   6 , Maria LE Andersson  1   2 , Ann Bremander  1   2   7 , Ingrid Larsson  2   5
Affiliations

Quality of life in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis: A phenomenographic study

Karina Malm et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis perceive reduced quality of life in several domains, such as physical health, level of independence, environment and personal beliefs, compared with the healthy population. There is an increasing interest in quality of life in clinical and medical interventions. Few studies have explored patients' individual conceptions of quality of life, and interviews can thus complement quantitative studies. There is a need for a deeper understanding of the patients' experiences of quality of life, with regard to living with a long-term condition such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to explore the variation of ways in which patients with established rheumatoid arthritis understand the concept of quality of life.

Methods: The study had a qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach, which was used to describe variations in how individuals experience their quality of life. The study is based on interviews with 22 patients with established rheumatoid arthritis enrolled in the BARFOT (better anti-rheumatic pharmacotherapy) study.

Results: The concept of quality of life could be understood in three different ways: (1) independence in terms of physical functioning and personal finances, (2) empowerment in how to manage life and (3) participation as an experience of belonging in a social context.

Conclusion: The different conceptions of quality of life reflect the complexity in the concept, including physical, psychological and social aspects. This complexity is important to have in mind when health professionals support patients in enhancing their quality of life.

Keywords: Rheumatology/clinical immunology; qualitative study; quality of life; rheumatoid arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The outcome space illustrating the relationship between the categories independence, empowerment and participation and described physical, psychological and social aspects that influence the quality of life in patients with established RA. The categories are related as parts of a whole and the variations that emerged are not hierarchically related.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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