title: Living a demanding life--spouses' experiences of living with a person suffering from intermittent claudication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a study of family members' experiences of living with a person suffering from intermittent claudication caused by peripheral arterial disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Intermittent claudication is a symptom caused by peripheral arterial disease. Walking ability is reduced due to pain and this also affects the family members and leads to consequences such as isolation and a restricted life.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study has a qualitative descriptive design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten spouses living with a person suffering from intermittent claudication were interviewed between December 2009-June 2010. The interviews were then analysed using qualitative thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes were identified: 'Frustrating to not meet intentions', 'Undergoing changes in social life', 'Being a person on the side of things' and 'Intertwining of circumstances'. The overall theme 'Living a demanding life' illustrates that intermittent claudication has great impact on daily life among spouses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study gives an insight into the complexities and the difficulties of living together with someone suffering from intermittent claudication, a symptom that has great impact on both the spouses' and the ill persons' lives. According to the findings in this study, it is important to gain knowledge about the spouses' experiences because an holistic perspective is essential to treat and support the ill persons and their spouses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Sophiahemmet University College, Stockholm, Sweden. louise.egberg@sophiahemmethogskola.se
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Egberg
authors.forename: Sissel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Anne-Cathrine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mattiasson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000150:complications; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D012917:Social Adjustment; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological