'It's this whole picture, this well-being': Patients' understanding of 'feeling well' with rheumatoid arthritis

Morris, M.; Sanderson, Tessa; Calnan, Michael; Richards, Pam; Hewlett, S.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of 'feeling wellg' for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 RA patients, purposively sampled for medication type, disease duration, disease activity, age and gender. Data were analysed using Framework, emphasizing participants' personal contexts. Results: Well-being was viewed as a broad concept, with 'feeling well' being the result of an on-going process to actively engage with a changing body, self and life. Four dimensions emerged: 'Living in the body','Being in the mind','Adapting to illness'and 'Being in the world'. The physical impact of RA underpinned the global perception of well-being and was clearly described as linking to the experience of psychological well-being. Physical and psychological wellness was often affected by the individual's adaptation to RA and personal context (e.g. home environment, broader social attitudes). Discussion: Well-being is a multidimensional concept that is meaningful to RA patients regardless of medication type and disease severity. Patients commonly illustrated a process of actively engaging in cognitive and behavioural adjustments to move towards wellness. Clinical practice and research must take account of the complexity of well-being in long-term conditions, in order to fulfil patients' expectations. © The Author(s), 2010.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2010
• Deposit Date: Oct 27, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 9, 2016
• Journal: Chronic Illness
• Print ISSN: 1742-3953
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-9206
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 228-240
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1742395310377672
• Keywords: well-being, rheumatoid arthritis, patient perspective, qualitative
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/988192
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1742395310377672
• Contract Date: Feb 9, 2016