The importance for daily occupations of perceiving good health: Perceptions among women with rheumatic diseases

Abstract

By adapting to their level of physical function and strength and by compensation with assistive devices, selecting adjusted environment, and by getting support from others, the women perceived good health. The results also suggested that training in different ways, medical treatment, and rheumatologic team care were related to increased performance of daily occupations and the perceptions of good health.

Sedentary behaviour in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative study

“…Strategies included putting minimal strain on the joints by doing mostly sedentary tasks, planning sitting time in the morning and in between daily activities, and prioritizing weekly days of rest. These findings fit descriptions given by patients with RA in previous research which explicitly aimed to describe how patients coped with their arthritis in everyday life (Feldthusen et al, 2013 ; Gronning, Lomundal, Koksvik, & Steinsbekk, 2011 ; Hewlett et al, 2012 ; Kristiansen et al, 2012 ; Ottenvall & Hakansson, 2013 ). As such, previous qualitative studies (Hewlett et al, 2012 ; Ottenvall & Hakansson, 2013 ) have described how patients with RA made practical or mental adjustments on a day-to-day basis resulting in a modified physical activity level in order to meet the consequences of the fluctuating nature of arthritis and to ensure a balance between physical activity and rest.…”

“…These findings fit descriptions given by patients with RA in previous research which explicitly aimed to describe how patients coped with their arthritis in everyday life (Feldthusen et al, 2013 ; Gronning, Lomundal, Koksvik, & Steinsbekk, 2011 ; Hewlett et al, 2012 ; Kristiansen et al, 2012 ; Ottenvall & Hakansson, 2013 ). As such, previous qualitative studies (Hewlett et al, 2012 ; Ottenvall & Hakansson, 2013 ) have described how patients with RA made practical or mental adjustments on a day-to-day basis resulting in a modified physical activity level in order to meet the consequences of the fluctuating nature of arthritis and to ensure a balance between physical activity and rest. In agreement with two other qualitative studies (Feldthusen et al, 2013 ; Gronning et al, 2011 ), these daily adjustments often included avoiding energy-consuming activities, doing the activities at one's own pace, and planning extra time for rest between physical or social activities.…”

“…How essential the daily adjustments had become for the patients’ well-being in everyday life was further illustrated by the finding that the patients were worried about being “punished” by the RA if the planning of rest in between activities was not integrated in their everyday life. This is supported by (Ottenvall & Hakansson, 2013 ) who found that the conscious planning of keeping a balance between activities and rest had a direct relationship with perception of health in patients with RA. To clarify this point further, it is worth mentioning that the patients in our study described planning and prioritizing SB even on days when they were not affected or limited by symptoms.…”

Occupational balance and its association with life satisfaction in men and women with rheumatoid arthritis

“…However, despite reduced disability in people with RA, they continue to experience difficulties in performing the activities of everyday life, and often by not being able to do what one wants to do (Ahlstrand, Björk, Thyberg, Börsbo, & Falkmer, ). For instance, the increased levels of fatigue associated with RA negatively affect daily life (Feldthusen, Björk, Forsblad‐d'Elia, & Mannerkorpi, ), making changes or adaptations necessary (Hjalmarsson Österholm, Björk, & Håkansson, ; McDonald et al, ; Ottenvall Hammar & Håkansson, ; Squire, ). Therefore, it is not surprising that people with RA have difficulties achieving the right amount and variety of everyday life activities (Ahlstrand et al, ; Hjalmarsson Österholm et al, ), i.e., to experience occupational balance.…”

Use of Assistive Devices in Rheumatologic Diseases

“…RA'lı kadınların romatizmal hastalıklarla ilgili algılarının değerlendirildiği bir çalışmada, hastaların günlük işlerde en önemli ve sık kullandığı yardımcı araç gereçler; tuvalet/klozet oturma yükselticileri, açılı ve kolay tutulabilen ekmek bıçakları, peynirsebze doğrayıcıları, anahtar kavrayıcıları ve benzeri tutmayı kolaylaştırıcı araçlar olarak bildirilmiştir. 33 Boer ve ark.nın çalışmasında, RA hastalarının kullandığı 21 yardımcı araç belirlenmiş ve bunların arasından en sık kullanılanların; tutunma barları (%44), ortopedik ayakkabılar (%32), banyo sandalyeleri (%29) ve elektrikli konserve açacağı (%27) olduğu belirlenmiştir. 34 Hastalığa bağlı olarak gelişen özürlülük ve fiziksel fonksiyonlarda bozulma durumu, yardımcı araç gereç kullanım gereksinimlerinin belirleyicileridir.…”