Why do patients with rheumatoid arthritis use complementary therapies?

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Complementary Medicine
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often explore complementary therapies (CT) alongside conventional treatments.
• Understanding patient motivations and experiences with CT is crucial for rheumatology care.
• RA management can be challenging, leading patients to seek alternative approaches for well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how complementary therapy (CT) use impacts patient perspectives on health and well-being in rheumatoid arthritis.
• To provide rheumatology professionals with insight into patient choices regarding CT.
• To identify the most frequently utilized CTs among rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, phenomenological study using focused inquiry.
• Inclusion criteria: established rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and known CT use.
• Data collected via unstructured interviews with five randomly selected patients from a convenience sample.

Main Results:

• Incentives for CT use include dissatisfaction with conventional treatments (side effects, ineffectiveness), social factors, and psychological distress.
• Perceived benefits are physical and psychological, enhancing personal empowerment through choice and control.
• Commonly used CTs include herbal remedies, supplements, and aromatherapy massage; risks involve physical, psychological, and material costs.

Conclusions:

• Complementary therapy (CT) use in rheumatoid arthritis offers holistic benefits, perceived as having fewer adverse reactions than conventional treatments.
• Patients report advantages in choice, psychological comfort, and the patient-therapist relationship with CT.
• There is a need for evidence-based information on CT safety and efficacy to guide rheumatology practice.