title: Rheumatology outcomes: the patient's perspective. A multicentre focus group interview study of Swedish rheumatoid arthritis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and clinicians have different views about benefits from treatments. More knowledge is needed about how patients assess outcomes in order to update current measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus group interviews were performed at four Swedish rheumatology clinics. A total of 25 patients with RA were included, representing a wide range of ages and disease duration. Predetermined topics relating to important outcomes from and satisfaction/dissatisfaction with RA treatments were discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants' initial outcome assessments included physical and psychosocial items, which comprised overall treatment goals such as impairment in social roles, fatigue, daily activities and self-confidence. The identified themes were 'Normal life', 'Physical capacity', 'Independence' and 'Well-being'. Satisfaction with treatment was associated with the quality of communication between staff and the patient. The participants assumed this as a prerequisite for a treatment to work. Patients wanted to be accepted as experts on their own bodies, and expected all clinicians to be experts on RA. This made it possible for patients to 'take charge' of their life situation. Good resources for and access to rheumatology care were desired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suggesting a holistic approach to rheumatology care, the study results indicate that the illness and outcomes have to be evaluated within an individual RA patient's total life situation, described in the identified themes: 'Normal life', 'Physical capacity', 'Independence' and 'Well-being'. Development and validation of measurements covering these issues is suggested. More research is needed about communication and how patients experience their roles in the rheumatology clinic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, SU/Göteborg and Mölndal, Box 1094, SE-436 22 Askim, Sweden. em.ahlmen@telia.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahlmén
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nordenskiöld
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Archenholtz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thyberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rönnqvist
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lindén
authors.forename: A-K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mannerkorpi
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome