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

Abstract

Objective: The purpose was to describe and characterize what women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) perceive as important in considering the performance of daily occupations to perceive good health. Methods: By using a phenomenographic research approach with semi-structured interviews with nine women between the ages of 42 and 65 the core category “Being able to be as active as possible in daily occupations” emerged. Results: The women's repertoire of daily occupations had changed as the years had passed. To perceive good health the women expressed the importance of continuing to be active and to perform occupations as independently as possible despite their chronic rheumatic diseases. Conclusions: 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.

Key words::

• juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• meaningful occupation
• occupational performance
• occupational therapy
• phenomenography
• rheumatoid arthritis

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend thanks to the women who participated in the interviews and let the authors take part in their life stories. Finally, the authors would like to thank the first author's colleague, who assisted in finding the women for the present study.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.