title: Participation in life situations by persons with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the frequency of participation in life situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 83 persons with systemic sclerosis (SSc) completed questionnaires regarding the presence and severity of disease symptoms, disability [the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)], depression [the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)], and participation [the Adelaide Activities Profile (AAP)]. On the AAP, individuals rate the frequency of participation in four domains: domestic chores, household maintenance, service to others and social activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were predominantly female, married, educated, white, and had diffuse SSc. Mean age was 53.7 years and mean disease duration was 9.9 years. On the AAP, participation was significantly more frequent for domestic chores than for household maintenance, service to others, and social activities. More fatigue (p < 0.05), disability (p < 0.001), and fatigue (p < 0.05) resulted in lower total AAP scores. More fatigue, pain, severe gastrointestinal symptoms, and depression related to lower household maintenance scores, while the presence of ulcers and more disability and depression were associated with lower domestic chores scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation in life situations in persons with SSc is related to higher disability, depression, and severity of disease symptoms. Interventions to address the disability, depression and symptoms may increase participation.
authors: Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico , Albuquerque, NM , USA .
authors: Janet L
authors: JL
authors: Poole
authors: Annandhi
authors: A
authors: Chandrasekaran
authors: Kristal
authors: K
authors: Hildebrand
authors: Betty
authors: B
authors: Skipper
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D058992:Social Participation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adelaide activities profile; participation; scleroderma; systemic sclerosis