title: A patient-derived perspective of health-related quality of life with peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of peripheral artery disease (PAD) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from the patient's perspective to establish a foundation for systematic PAD-specific HRQoL assessment in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Grounded theory methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open-ended, tape-recorded interviews were conducted with 38 patients (24 men, 14 women) 44 to 83 years old (mean 65) from two US medical centers to report patient experience of PAD and its perceived effects on HRQoL. Tapes were transcribed and analyzed to identify themes and conceptual domains pertinent to the experience of PAD in this population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven major themes were identified: (a) delay in diagnosis and frustration with management of disease; (b) pain; (c) limitation in physical functioning; (d) limitation in social and role functioning; (e) compromise of self; (f) uncertainty and fear; and (g) adaptation to the effects of the disease and demonstration of resiliency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate important psychosocial and emotional consequences of PAD that existing HRQoL questionnaires do not indicate. More complete data might lead to greater understanding of the effects of PAD, serving as the foundation for a more sensitive instrument to assess HRQoL as a basis for more effective interventions.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, USA. treat001@umn.edu
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Treat-Jacobson
authors.forename: Sheri L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Halverson
authors.forename: Andria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ratchford
authors.forename: Judith G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Regensteiner
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lindquist
authors.forename: Alan T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hirsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life