title: Spiritual well-being in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, long-term, and non-life-threatening disease. Individuals with RA face various daily pressures that include physical symptoms as well as feelings of helplessness, dependency, threats to self-respect, interference with social activities, disruptions of family ties, and difficulties in continuing to work. Quality of life reflects a patient's spiritual well-being and can be used as an important indicator of adaptation to RA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the status of spiritual well-being in RA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used meta-synthesis with Sandelowski and Barroso's qualitative meta-summary technique. A comprehensive search of Academic Search Complete, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycARTICA LES, and SocINDEX using relevant keywords identified primary research studies that have previously explored spiritual well-being in patients with RA. Each study was systematically evaluated on the basis of the following inclusion criteria: (a) clear descriptions of research purposes and qualitative research, sampling strategies and techniques used; (b) statement of sample size and sample variables; (c) description of data analysis methods used; and (d) quality of research finding presentation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 675 articles, published between 1995 and 2009, were found. Ten met the inclusion criteria. The results revealed four consistent themes related to RA patients' spiritual well-being, namely, living with the disease, reclaiming control, reframing the situation, and bolstering courage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multifaceted resources should be used to give patients spiritual support. These resources should include establishing cognition-based education programs that provide information about the disease and programs that offer strong support for patient groups. Curricula should address how to plan family education courses. Spiritual well-being as presented in this study should be integrated into quality-of-life evaluations of RA patients and provide an evaluation tool able to assess the effectiveness of various interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences.
authors.forename: Wen-Chuan
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Meei-Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gau
authors.forename: Hui-Chen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hung-Ru
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D029181:Spirituality