Experiences of health-promoting self-care in people living with rheumatic diseases

• Aim This paper is a report of a study which explores and describes the meaning of the phenomenon health-promoting self-care as experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases.Background People with rheumatic diseases estimate health status as low and health belief and health status influence the self-care behaviours. Several self-care behaviours are used in the efforts to mitigate the diseases.Method The study had a descriptive phenomenological approach based on a reflective life-world perspective. Data were gathered in 2007 by unstructured open-ended interviews with 12 individuals living with rheumatic diseases.Findings The meaning of health-promoting self-care as experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases was that self-care takes place against a background of continual hope and belief to influence health in positive ways. Self-care was a way of life and implied being ready to understand and respond to signals from the body. Three inter-related constituents elucidated the experiences: dialogue, power struggle and choice. Self-care was experienced as dialogues within the body and with the immediate environment. In order to respond to signals from the body, power struggles were required to be entered when fighting the diseases. Choices were required to be made and things that were beneficial for the body were prioritized.Conclusion In this study, the meaning of health-promoting self-care as experienced by people living with rheumatic diseases was that self-care was a way of life. This meant to be ready to understand and respond to signals from the body. Self-care required dialogues, power struggles and choices.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adults

health promoting self-care

nursing

phenomenology

rheumatic diseases

self-care

Caring sciences

Vårdvetenskap

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)