title: Quality of life in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine quality of life (QOL) in American Indian and White women with and without rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 64 women in four groups: American Indians with rheumatoid arthritis, healthy American Indians, Whites with rheumatoid arthritis, and healthy Whites. Participants received evaluations of pain, joint motion, hand function, daily task performance, community participation, and QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in QOL between the participants with rheumatoid arthritis and the healthy control groups but not between the American Indian and White groups. Current health and emotional-social function related to QOL in all groups. Dexterity also correlated with QOL in the two groups with rheumatoid arthritis. Performance of daily activities correlated with 0OL in all groups except the healthy White groups. Community participation did not correlate with COL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that rheumatoid arthritis in American Indian and White women does affect COL and that QOL does not seem to be influenced by ethnicity. Factors that related to QOL also were similar for both groups with rheumatoid arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, MSC09 5240, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA. jpoole@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: Janet L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chiappisi
authors.forename: Jennifer Schukar
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Cordova
authors.forename: Wilmer
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sibbitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States; D044465:White People