Chronically ill rural women: self-identified management problems and solutions.
OBJECTIVE
To add to the knowledge base of illness management of chronically ill, rural women by describing the self-identified problems and solutions reported by women participants in the online health-education segment of the Women to Women (WTW) computer outreach project.


METHODS
WTW is a research-based computer intervention providing health education and online peer support for rural women with chronic diseases. Messages posted to the online chat room were examined to determine the women's self-management problems and solutions.


RESULTS
The self-identified problems were: (1) difficulties in carrying through on self-management programmes; (2) negative fears and feelings; (3) poor communication with care providers; and (4) disturbed relationships with family and friends. The self-identified solutions to these problems included problem-solving techniques that were tailored to the rural lifestyle. Although not all problems were 'solvable', they could be 'lived with' if the women's prescriptions for self-management were used.


CONCLUSIONS
Glimpses into the women's day-to-day experiences of living with chronic illness gleaned from the interactive health-education discussions will give health professionals insights into the women's efforts to manage their illnesses. The data provide health professionals with information to heighten their sensitivity to their clients' day-to-day care and educational needs.
Cudney
Shirley
S
College of Nursing, Montana State University-Bozeman, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA. scudney@montana.edu
Sullivan
Therese
T
Winters
Charlene A
CA
Paul
Lynn
L
Oriet
Pat
P
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health