Patients’ conceptions of drug information given by the rheumatology nurse

• Background: Pain, stiffness and functional restriction of the joints are the main problems for patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. The majority of patients with rheumatic diseases have a need for daily intake of several drugs. Compliance in drug treatment is higher amongst patients that have been given drug information by a nurse at repeated occasions from the start of the treatment. In the development of patient information, it is essential to take advantage of patients' experiences.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe variations in how patients with rheumatic diseases conceive drug information given by a rheumatology nurse.Methods: The study had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach. When employing such an approach, the main aim is to describe how a phenomenon is conceived by different individuals. Fifteen patients with rheumatic diseases who had received a new drug during a hospital visit were approached, agreed to take part in the study and were interviewed. Strategic sampling in terms of sex, age, marital status, education, rheumatic diseases, and illness duration, was carried out in order to achieve variation in conceptions of the phenomenon.Results: Three descriptive categories emerged: (1) Autonomy (own responsibility and participation), (2) Power (knowledge and motivation), (3) Security (trust, care and accessibility). Autonomy was based on the patients' experiences from taking their own responsibility and participation. Power meant to gain knowledge and motivation to take the drug. Security was to receive trust, experience care, and to have accessibility to a rheumatology nurse.Conclusion: Patients with rheumatic diseases experiences that drug information from a rheumatology nurse gives them autonomy, power and security. These could be essential for the patients to manage their daily life, where drug treatment is one part.Disclosure of Interest: None declared

Subject headings

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

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

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

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

Keyword

patient information

rheumatology nurse

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)