Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Spain: A Qualitative Study of Patient Experience and the Role of Health Professionals

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of Spanish people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the support these people received from health professionals, particularly nurses. Nineteen patients with >1 year diagnosis, disease activity moderate or severe (DAS28 > 3.2), and already treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were interviewed. A thematic analysis was performed to interpret the discourses. The difficulties of symptom management; the need for home-adaptations, the difficulties of living with a deteriorating self-image; and the reluctant reliance on medication to control their disease were the main themes that emerged from the discourse analysis of this study. Nurses appeared to have a limited role in RA patients care, and focused primarily on giving information and training for biological therapies. RA patients in Spain would benefit from having contact with specialist nurses who could empower them to self-manage their disease, as happens in other countries.