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Qualitative
The experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis admitted to hospital focused on 5 interrelated themes

https://doi.org/10.1136/ebn.5.2.63

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    Edwards J, Mulherin D, Ryan S, et al. The experience of patients with rheumatoid arthritis admitted to hospital.Arthritis Care Res2001 Feb;45:1–7

    QUESTION: How do women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience inpatient hospital care?

    Design

    Phenomenology.

    Setting

    1 hospital in Staffordshire and 1 hospital in West Midlands, UK.

    Participants

    9 women (mean age 54 y) who had RA for ≥ 3 years (range 3–42 y, mean 13.8 y) and had received inpatient treatment for ≥ 5 days within the previous 2 years. 5 patients were admitted to a dedicated rheumatology ward, and 4 were admitted to an internal medicine ward.

    Methods

    Patients participated in unstructured individual interviews of about 1 hour. Interviews were tape recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Colaizzi's method. The analysis was discussed with 3 participants to confirm that it was a reasonable account of their experiences.

    Main findings

    5 interrelated themes were identified. The first theme involved the uncertainty that women experienced before and during their first admission with RA. Feelings …

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    Footnotes

    • Source of funding: no external funding.

    • For correspondence: Ms J Edwards, Department of Rheumatology, Cannock Chase Hospital, Cannock, Staffordshire, UK. sharon.murphy{at}msgh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk