Living with dizziness: an explorative study

Abstract

A qualitative study was conducted for the purpose of exploring how patients with dizziness manage their daily living. Ten patients with history of dizziness were recruited from the out-patient clinic, Department of Audiology, in a hospital in Stockholm. Collection and analysis of data were inspired by the method of grounded theory. Four themes were developed that described the experience of living with dizziness: vulnerable reactions, affirmation and non-affirmation, finding ways to carry on daily living, and expressing the need for health care support. These themes seem to conceptualize these patients' difficulties and needs in relationship to living with dizziness and, given the small sample, have implications for nursing practice and provide a framework for a broader study.

Fighting for control in an unpredictable life – a qualitative study of older persons’ experiences of living with chronic dizziness

“…The results of this study are in line with other studies giving a multifaceted picture of functioning and underlining how much the pathology of dizziness interferes with daily life [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. Aspects of living with dizziness have been linked to over 140 International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories in bodily functions, activities and participation, as well as environmental factors [ 23 ] and ICF may be used as a way to describe the complex situation of the individual.…”

“…Some of the respondents had to plan their activities in advance but this strategy was expressed as being very energy consuming and the respondents expressed concerns as to whether or not they would be able to go through with their plans. To stay independent was an important issue, as was shown previously [ 21 ]. Self-learned strategies were similarly described in other studies in persons with chronic dizziness [ 21 , 24 ], indicating that they are fighting on their own to take control of the situation.…”

“…To stay independent was an important issue, as was shown previously [ 21 ]. Self-learned strategies were similarly described in other studies in persons with chronic dizziness [ 21 , 24 ], indicating that they are fighting on their own to take control of the situation. Earlier studies showed that dizziness is associated with decreased activities in daily living and decreased engagement in social activities [ 1 , 2 , 7 ].…”

“…Fighting for control contained a physical dimension in terms of fighting to stay mobile or not fall, but also a psychological dimension in terms of “understanding their disease” or fighting to have their concerns taken seriously or to receive treatment. A wish to find the cause of dizziness was reported previously [ 21 , 24 ]. Even though the respondents in the present study had diagnoses not all of them knew the cause of their dizziness and this indicates the need to develop information strategies for older people with chronic dizziness.…”

“…The experience of living with dizziness might differ between younger and older people because they are at different stages of life and thereby facing different challenges in daily life. Qualitative studies including both younger and older persons with peripheral vestibular disorders [ 21 ], vertigo [ 22 ] or disorders with central, peripheral or somatoform origins [ 23 ] showed that dizziness causes severe limitations in life [ 21 ]. They also showed that dizziness exerts effects on multifaceted aspects of functioning and disability [ 23 ].…”