How people with rheumatoid arthritis perceive leisure activities: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore how people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) perceive leisure activities.


METHODS
A phenomenographic approach using semi-structured interviews to explore the impact of RA on leisure pursuits was used.


RESULTS
Three descriptive categories containing 11 conceptions emerged: (1) Experiencing constraints included four conceptions: seeing limitations, needing time, finding balance, being dependent. (2) Experiencing coherence included four conceptions: accepting feelings participating in a social context, being active, having insight. (3) Finding solutions included three conceptions: choosing, planning, and adapting.


CONCLUSIONS
This study emphasizes the limited choices and problems people with RA had participating in leisure activities, as well as its impact on self-esteem.
Wikström
Ingegerd
I
Department of Rheumatology, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden. ingegerd.wikstrom@skane.se
Jacobsson
Lennart Th
LT
Arvidsson
Barbro
B