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Coping with arthritis is experienced as a dynamic balancing process. A qualitative study
Kjersti Grønning1, Borghild Lomundal, Hege Svean Koksvik
1Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Kjersti.Gronning@ntnu.no
Clinical Rheumatology
|September 6, 2011
Summary
Coping with chronic inflammatory arthritis involves a dynamic balancing act. Patients navigate between maintaining normalcy, listening to their bodies, making adjustments, and adopting a life attitude, ultimately redefining their sense of normal life.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Psychology
- Health Sciences
Background:
- Chronic inflammatory arthritis significantly impacts daily life.
- Understanding patient coping mechanisms is crucial for effective management.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the dynamic nature of arthritis coping.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the lived experience of coping in individuals with chronic inflammatory arthritis.
- To identify the key components and processes involved in managing arthritis challenges.
- To explore how patients redefine normalcy amidst disease fluctuations.
Main Methods:
- Conducted semi-structured, individual, face-to-face interviews with 26 participants.
- Included individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and unspecified polyarthritis.
- Explored participants' experiences of living with arthritis and their coping strategies.
Main Results:
- Coping with arthritis is a dynamic, iterative balancing process.
- Patients fluctuate between states: 'go on as usual,' 'listen to the body,' 'adjustments,' and 'attitude towards life.'
- Disease flares disrupt balance, necessitating adjustments and influencing life perspective, leading to a redefined 'normal.'
Conclusions:
- The coping process in chronic inflammatory arthritis is characterized by continuous adaptation and redefinition of normalcy.
- An individual's attitude towards life plays a significant role in navigating the challenges of arthritis.
- Understanding this dynamic balancing process can inform supportive interventions for arthritis patients.
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