Studying Narrative-in-Action in Women With Chronic Rheumatic Conditions

Abstract

In this article we aim to sculpt a possible methodology for studying how a good everyday life comes about when living with chronic rheumatic conditions (CRC). Our "how" focus acknowledges a woman with CRC as one member of a diverse population, whereby we question the biomedically based view that she differs from the population. The more frequently asked "what" question colors study designs and results in categories and characteristics regarding what she is able to do and what adaptations she has made in everyday life as a consequence of her disease. Adopting a narrative approach, we ask how a good everyday life comes about, and illustrate this with ethnographic material of the everyday activities of women living with CRC. We conceptualize narrative as embedded in the process of enacting activities. Furthermore, we highlight hermeneutical interpretative processes of how meaning works in the stream of everyday action.

Stories stirring the quest of the good: narratives of women living with chronic rheumatic conditions

“…The narrative analyses convey the researcher's interpretations, based on material from the first author engaging in the everyday activities of the participants. The activities that took place were initiated by the participants regarding what to do, and how and when to do it, and so was the case for the subsequent conversation that followed along with the doing (Alsaker, Bongaardt, and Josephsson 2009). The interpretation is grounded in authors' pre-understanding and long experiences as occupational therapists and teachers of OT, as well as personal experiences and academic knowledge from social sciences.…”

“…This discourse or communication is central in individual lives, showing how everyday action connects to moral questions, challenges and dilemmas, establishing narrative meaning-making processes. Such narratives are highly discursive and communicative (Josephsson et al 2006) and accessible through narrative methodology (Alsaker, Bongaardt, and Josephsson 2009;Hammersley and Atkinson 2007;Hastrup 2003).…”

“…Thus biomedicine sidesteps the moral dilemmas its clients' experience, dilemmas which consequently need to be studied outside a biomedical frame. Narrative theory and analysis offer such an approach (Alsaker, Bongaardt, and Josephsson 2009;Mattingly 1998bMattingly , 2006Polkinghorne 1995;Ricoeur 1984Ricoeur , 1991.…”

Craft activities in groups at meeting places: supporting mental health users' everyday occupations

“…The guidelines for analysing field notes adhered to paradigmatic analysis (29), which entails gathering stories for its data but allowing categories to emerge from the stories (28,29). Paradigmatic analysis is common to most thematic analysis (29).…”

“…The field notes, which total 85 pages, were written on a computer shortly after each session. Notes took a narrative form, and were structured according to the day, events, stories told during the workshops, and reflections (28). Notes focused on whatever related to the object of analysis.…”