Purpose: Scleroderma is a disease without definitive treatment. It has long-term complications, but is controllable. Patients’ adherence to treatment recommendations can prevent acute and chronic complications of the disease and delay its occurrence. This study aimed to explain adherence to treatment from the perspective of patients with scleroderma.
Patients and Methods: The present study was conducted with a qualitative approach. The research setting was Hafez Teaching Hospital, affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Fourteen patients with scleroderma was purposefully selected and participated in semi-structured interviews. To analyze the data, the conventional content analysis approach was used.
Results: According to the participants’ opinions, two main categories emerged.
For the category “the diagnostic-therapeutic regimen as the basis of adherence to treatment”, the data analysis revealed the following subcategories: the value of diagnostic methods and adherence to the drug regimen. For the category “adherence to a range of physical care”, the following subcategories emerged: persistence in monitoring one's weight, attention to skin care, comfort by keeping the body warm, selection of nutritional patterns appropriate for disease conditions and tendency to use complementary medicine.
Conclusion: Adherence to treatment can play a significant role in the self-management and control of scleroderma. The present study showed that patients with scleroderma adhere to the therapeutic regimen by following diagnostic and pharmacotherapy methods, performing skin care, choosing nutritional patterns, using complementary medicine and watching their weight.