Patients' perceptions of health related quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis and chronic low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how health related quality of life (HRQL) is perceived by patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic low back pain (CLBP) using a textual analysis approach.


METHODS
Two-hundred and forty-eight outpatients (85% female), mean age 58+/-13 years (40% RA and 60% CLBP).


METHODS
Observational descriptive study. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were determined. A questionnaire was designed which included an open question "What does health related quality of life mean to you." which patients answered in writing. Textual data analysis was performed using a previous described method based on multivariate descriptive statistical methods.


RESULTS
The two groups were homogenous with respect to gender, educational level, disease duration, comorbid conditions and global functional status. Patients with RA and CLBP used clearly differentiated terms to describe HRQL (RA: to be able (capable), house; CLBP: life, health, quality). RA patients were specific and primarily concerned with functional status and CLBP patients with health and life. The most characteristic phrase used by RA patients was: "to be able to do housework" and for CLBP: "health is the most important thing for quality of life." In the factorial representation, the two pathologies were markedly separated.


CONCLUSIONS
A series of characteristic answers on HRQL may be identified in patients with RA and CLBP, showing that they have different perceptions about what HRQL is according to their pathology. The use of open questions in a group of homogenous patients with specific pathologies could result in more disease-specific responses. Textual statistical analysis of open questions may provide more information than standard methods, and may be considered as valid for the analysis of subjective issues such as quality of life.
Núñez
Montserrat
M
Service of Rheumatology, Musculoskeletal Clinical Institute, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain, MNUNEZ@clinic.ub.es
Sanchez
Alex
A
Nuñez
Esther
E
Casals
Teresa
T
Alegre
Cayetano
C
Muñoz-Gomez
José
J
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires