What Is Relatives’ Role in Arthritis Management? A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions of Patient-Relative Dyads

Figures & data

Figure 1 The interview guide

Table 1 Characteristics of Patients and Relatives

	Patients (N = 20)	Relatives (N = 20)
Demographics
Mean age (SD, interval)	59.5 (15.1; 27–79)	60.6 (13.1; 39–83)
Gender (men vs. women)	6 vs. 14	12 vs. 8
Education
High school or less	12	13
Attended college	8	7
Family status
Married/common-law union	19	20
Mean years of couple duration (SD, interval)	27.5 (17.6; 1.5–57)
Have at least one child	15	17
Relative taking part in the study
Partner	–	18
Mother	-	1
Friend	–	1
Occupational status
Employed	3	7
Retired	13	11
Disabled or unemployed	4	2
Medical
Disease
Rheumatoid arthritis	13	–
> Disease activity* (mean RAPID3 score, SD, interval)	10.4 (5.8; 5.5–18.3)	–
Spondyloarthritis	7	–
> Disease activity** (mean BASDAI score, SD, interval)	27.3 (11.5; 8–40)	–
Mean years since diagnosis (SD, interval)	12.8 (11.1; 1–39)	–
Recruitment area
Paris	8	–
Province	12	–
Recruitment method
Rheumatologist medical consultation	18
Patient association	2
Psychological characteristics
Depression^† (mean HADS score, SD, interval)	5.3 (3.3; 0–11)	5.8 (3.7; 0–13)
Anxiety^† (mean HADS score, SD, interval)	7.2 (4.7; 0–19)	8.3 (4.3; 3–17)
Burden^†† (mean Zarit score, SD, interval)	–	16.6 (10.7; 0–40)

Notes: No statistical difference was observed between patients and relatives. *Scores range from 0 to 30; a higher score indicates higher disease activity. **Scores range from 0 to 60; a higher score indicates higher disease activity. ^†Scores range from 0 to 21; a higher score indicates anxiety or depression. ^††Scores range from 0 to 88; a higher score indicates a high burden.