"Creating a Lifestyle that Accommodates Rheumatoid Arthritis" A Study on Ways to Provide Support to Arthritic Patients and Their Spouse

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24792445
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Science
• Principal Investigator: YAMADA KAORU 山形県立保健医療大学, 保健医療学部, 助教 (90582958)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 関節リウマチ / 慢性疾患 / 生活史

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study attempted to understand the personal experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their spouses. Six individuals with RA and their spouses were interviewed, all of whom lived in the same area. Their personal experiences of living with RA were collected and analyzed. The patients had adopted a variety of physical techniques to perform activities of daily living. Additionally, shifts and changes in household responsibilities between patients and their spouses were instated in order to ensure family functioning. Furthermore, in social settings, RA patients made strategic decisions about the individuals to whom they disclosed their RA status in order to reduce somatic stress and maintain their identity.
When providing support to patients, it is important to understand the social context and consider its relationship to their symptoms.

Free Research Field

看護学