The experience of patients with rheumatoid arthritis admitted to hospital

Abstract

Objective To describe the experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when admitted to hospital. Methods A selected sample of 9 women with RA of at least 3 years duration, who had experienced at least 5 days of inpatient care within the previous 2 years, underwent unstructured interviews in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Information from the interviews was analyzed using Colaizzi's 6 procedural steps. Results Five major themes emerged from the study: uncertainty during the first admission to hospital; the process of becoming an experienced patient on subsequent admissions; the evident experience and knowledge of staff; the effect, both positive and negative, of other patients; and the loss of privacy. Conclusion These findings throw important new light on the experience of patients with RA receiving inpatient rheumatologic care and have the potential to significantly advance nursing practice within rheumatology. Arthritis Care Res 45:1–7, 2001. © 2001 by the American College of Rheumatology.

Disease activity and low physical activity associate with number of hospital admissions and length of hospitalisation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

“…Studies with RA patients reveal that, due to the high prevalence of co-morbidities [5], patients feel uncertain about the outcomes of their disease and hence, admission to the hospital may have deleterious effects, particularly in patients with early disease [14]. Hospitalisation may lead to negative self-esteem and loss of privacy [14] and may have a significant, lasting adverse impact on the quality of life of the patient.…”

“…Hospitalisation may lead to negative self-esteem and loss of privacy [14] and may have a significant, lasting adverse impact on the quality of life of the patient. It also associates with very high costs to the health system.…”

Evaluating meta-ethnography: systematic analysis and synthesis of qualitative research

“…One was excluded because the focus was doctor-patient communication, rather than the lived experience of RA. 179 Another was excluded because it focused on conditions other than RA, 180 whereas the remaining two 181,182 were marginal in terms of whether or not the research methods employed meant that the study fell within our definition of qualitative research.…”

The Lived Experiences of Iranian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…[ 17 ] Edwards et al . [ 16 ] recommend that nurses reinforce a positive body image in patients and encourage them to share their feelings by responding in a reassuring and non-judgmental way, as nurses’ reactions greatly impact how patients will cope with the disease in the future.…”

“…In the study by Edwards et al .,[ 16 ] findings showed that patients’ experiences during hospitalization played an important role in the promotion of rheumatic care by nurses. In the study conducted by Hwang et al .…”