title: Sedentary behaviour in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite increasing interest in investigating sedentary behaviour (SB) in the general population and in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there is little documentation of the subjective experiences of SB in patients with RA. This study aimed to examine how patients with RA describe their daily SB.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with RA (10 women and 5 men) from 23 to 73 years of age and with a disease duration ranging from 4 to 27 years were interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed using the content analysis method described by Graneheim.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SB appeared in three categories covering: 1) A constant battle between good and bad days; SB could be a consequence of RA in terms of days with pronounced pain and fatigue resulting in many hours of SB. 2) Adaptation to everyday life; living with the unpredictability of RA included constant modification of physical activity level causing increase in SB, especially during periods of disease flare. Prioritizing and planning of SB also functioned as part of self-management strategies. 3) It has nothing to do with my arthritis; for some patients, SB was not related to RA, but simply reflected a way of living independent of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SB is perceived, motivated, and performed differently in patients with RA. An individually tailored approach may be essential in understanding and encouraging patients' motivation towards sustainable change in SB and activity patterns.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Centre for Arthritis Research, Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases VRR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; tanja.thomsen.01@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Unit, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospitals, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aadahl
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Centre for Arthritis Research, Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases VRR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Merete L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hetland
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Centre for Arthritis Research, Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases VRR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Katrine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Løppenthin
authors.affiliation: Section of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|University Hospitals Centre for Health Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Midtgaard
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Centre for Arthritis Research, Centre for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases VRR, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bente A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Esbensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D003718:Denmark; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Sitting time; adaptation; chronic disease; everyday life; fatigue; lifestyle; pain