Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions

Abstract Background Healthy lifestyle habits (regular physical activity, a healthy diet, no smoking and non-hazardous alcohol consumption) alongside pharmacological treatment can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Klara Drake af Hagelsrum, Ingrid Larsson, Ann Bremander, Jon T. Einarsson, Elisabet Lindqvist, Elisabeth Mogard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Rheumatology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-024-00433-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846147339310333952
author Klara Drake af Hagelsrum
Ingrid Larsson
Ann Bremander
Jon T. Einarsson
Elisabet Lindqvist
Elisabeth Mogard
author_facet Klara Drake af Hagelsrum
Ingrid Larsson
Ann Bremander
Jon T. Einarsson
Elisabet Lindqvist
Elisabeth Mogard
author_sort Klara Drake af Hagelsrum
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Healthy lifestyle habits (regular physical activity, a healthy diet, no smoking and non-hazardous alcohol consumption) alongside pharmacological treatment can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, healthcare professionals in rheumatology care are urged to discuss lifestyle habits with all patients. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ perceptions of lifestyle discussions in early rheumatology care. Methods Individual interviews were conducted with 20 patients with RA, 14 women and six men, aged 23 to 77 years, and with a mean disease duration of 2.4 years. All lifestyle discussions were performed during the first year with RA. A qualitative content analysis was performed. Results An overarching theme emerged, exploring how patients with RA perceived lifestyle discussions as facilitating self-management. Three categories illustrated this: (1) the usefulness of lifestyle discussions depended on the individual patient’s preferences and prioritization for lifestyle support; (2) the design of lifestyle discussions should be based on a person-centred approach, incorporating personalized lifestyle information and providing structured and recurrent support; (3) the outcomes of lifestyle discussions should contribute to enhanced knowledge and motivation for making healthy lifestyle changes. Conclusion Lifestyle discussions in early rheumatology care should, according to patients with RA, be based on a person-centred approach, be tailored to each patient’s preferences and needs, and have outcomes focusing on patient support for healthy lifestyle changes, all essential elements to facilitate self-management. The present findings can be used to guide the development and implementation of more person-centred lifestyle approaches targeted to facilitate lifestyle changes and benefit cardiovascular disease risk management in early rheumatology care.
format Article
id doaj-art-2b3e931431214ff4b44f0dccb2001756
institution Kabale University
issn 2520-1026
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Rheumatology
spelling doaj-art-2b3e931431214ff4b44f0dccb20017562024-12-01T12:49:59ZengBMCBMC Rheumatology2520-10262024-11-018111010.1186/s41927-024-00433-3Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptionsKlara Drake af Hagelsrum0Ingrid Larsson1Ann Bremander2Jon T. Einarsson3Elisabet Lindqvist4Elisabeth Mogard5Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversitySection of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversitySection of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversitySection of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversitySection of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversitySection of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund UniversityAbstract Background Healthy lifestyle habits (regular physical activity, a healthy diet, no smoking and non-hazardous alcohol consumption) alongside pharmacological treatment can lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Therefore, healthcare professionals in rheumatology care are urged to discuss lifestyle habits with all patients. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ perceptions of lifestyle discussions in early rheumatology care. Methods Individual interviews were conducted with 20 patients with RA, 14 women and six men, aged 23 to 77 years, and with a mean disease duration of 2.4 years. All lifestyle discussions were performed during the first year with RA. A qualitative content analysis was performed. Results An overarching theme emerged, exploring how patients with RA perceived lifestyle discussions as facilitating self-management. Three categories illustrated this: (1) the usefulness of lifestyle discussions depended on the individual patient’s preferences and prioritization for lifestyle support; (2) the design of lifestyle discussions should be based on a person-centred approach, incorporating personalized lifestyle information and providing structured and recurrent support; (3) the outcomes of lifestyle discussions should contribute to enhanced knowledge and motivation for making healthy lifestyle changes. Conclusion Lifestyle discussions in early rheumatology care should, according to patients with RA, be based on a person-centred approach, be tailored to each patient’s preferences and needs, and have outcomes focusing on patient support for healthy lifestyle changes, all essential elements to facilitate self-management. The present findings can be used to guide the development and implementation of more person-centred lifestyle approaches targeted to facilitate lifestyle changes and benefit cardiovascular disease risk management in early rheumatology care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-024-00433-3AlcoholArthritisCardiovascular disease risk managementDietHealthcareLifestyle
spellingShingle Klara Drake af Hagelsrum
Ingrid Larsson
Ann Bremander
Jon T. Einarsson
Elisabet Lindqvist
Elisabeth Mogard
Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
BMC Rheumatology
Alcohol
Arthritis
Cardiovascular disease risk management
Diet
Healthcare
Lifestyle
title Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
title_full Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
title_fullStr Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
title_full_unstemmed Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
title_short Lifestyle discussions facilitate self-management in RA: a qualitative study of patients’ perceptions
title_sort lifestyle discussions facilitate self management in ra a qualitative study of patients perceptions
topic Alcohol
Arthritis
Cardiovascular disease risk management
Diet
Healthcare
Lifestyle
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41927-024-00433-3
work_keys_str_mv AT klaradrakeafhagelsrum lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions
AT ingridlarsson lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions
AT annbremander lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions
AT jonteinarsson lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions
AT elisabetlindqvist lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions
AT elisabethmogard lifestylediscussionsfacilitateselfmanagementinraaqualitativestudyofpatientsperceptions