Patients’ Perspectives on the Psychological Impact of Inflammatory Arthritis and Meeting the Associated Support Needs: Open-Ended Responses in a Multi-Centre Survey

Morris, Marianne; Ambler, Nicholas; Caesley, Judy; Peterson, Alice; Fraser, Isobel; Dures, Emma; Hewlett, Sarah; Almeida, Celia; Pollock, Jon

Abstract

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Objectives: Psychological support for inflammatory arthritis is recommended in rheumatology treatment guidelines. Previous research found that high numbers of patients would access such support but that provision is often inconsistent and inadequate. The present study explored patients’ perspectives on the nature of the psychological impact of inflammatory arthritis and how to meet the associated support needs. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, using questionnaires which included three open-ended questions about helpful and unhelpful psychological support. The questionnaires were administered to 1,080 patients at six regional rheumatology units across England, and 1,200 members of a national patient charity. Results: A total of 1,210 (53%) patients completed the questionnaire, with 779 (64%) responding to the open-ended questions: 80% female; mean age 59 years (12.6); disease duration 10 years (40%). Data were analysed using a hybrid content analysis. Four categories emerged: challenges of an altered life course (negative emotions, isolation and loneliness, a dysfunctional body, loss, strained relationships, and fears for the future); poor communication (feeling unheard, clinicians’ reluctance to address psychological issues, a lack of help to manage pain and fatigue, and struggling to ask for help); understood by others (sharing with people who have arthritis, supportive family and friends, whole team support, and understanding from clinicians); and acquiring strategies (ways of coping). Conclusions: Psychological distress was commonplace, and often attributed to fatigue and pain. In addition to peers and family, patients looked to the rheumatology team for validation and support. Further research will address the skills training needs of rheumatology teams to meet patients’ psychological support requirements.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 17, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Sep 8, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 20, 2016
• Journal: Musculoskeletal Care
• Print ISSN: 1478-2189
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-0681
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 175-185
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1159
• Keywords: inflammatory arthritis, psychological support, patient perspective, fatigue, pain
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/882081
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/msc.1159
• Contract Date: Sep 12, 2016