Change search
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf
Pain and difficulties performing valued life activities in women and men with rheumatoid arthritis
Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, HHJ, Dep. of Rehabilitation. Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, HHJ. ADULT.
Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, HHJ, Dep. of Rehabilitation.
Linköping University.
Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, HHJ, Dep. of Rehabilitation.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0756-6862
2015 (English)In: Clinical Rheumatology, ISSN 0770-3198, E-ISSN 1434-9949, Vol. 34, no 8, p. 1353-1362Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

This study aimed to examine the difficulties with performing valued life activities in relation to pain intensity in women and men with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In total, 737 persons with RA (73 % women) from three rheumatology units in Sweden responded to a questionnaire measuring performance of 33 valued life activities and self-rated pain. The relationships between performance of valued life activities (VLAs) and pain (measured by visual analogue scale (VAS)) were analysed based on gender. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted with the total VLA score as dependent variable. Women reported more pain and difficulties in performing valued life activities than men. Across genders, 85 % reported at least one valued life activity affected by RA. Significantly more women than men encountered difficulties in performing some activities such as cooking, gardening and meeting new people. Women reported higher pain intensity (35 mm) than men (31 mm). Almost all 33 difficulty ratings for valued life activities were higher among persons with high pain (>40 mm) than persons with lower pain. Difficulty ratings for valued life activities correlated positively with pain in persons with lower pain, but not among those with high pain. The results highlight the importance of addressing pain, especially among women with RA, as they reported pain to impact on their valued life activities. Interestingly, this was evident also in women with lower levels of pain.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2015. Vol. 34, no 8, p. 1353-1362
Keywords [en]
Disability; Gender; HAQ; Participation restrictions; VAS; VLA
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-26392DOI: 10.1007/s10067-015-2874-5ISI: 000359267100006PubMedID: 25618175Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84922341299OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hj-26392DiVA, id: diva2:808769
Available from: 2015-04-29 Created: 2015-04-29 Last updated: 2023-05-08Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Pain and its relation to participation in valued activities in rheumatoid arthritis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Pain and its relation to participation in valued activities in rheumatoid arthritis
2015 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

There has been a dramatic change over the past two decades for persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not only due to early diagnosis, structured treatment, and aggressive medication but also due to an increased demand of participation in work life and society. Despite these treatment changes, RA continues to impact these individuals’ participation in valued daily activities. Participation in valued daily activities provides wellbeing and the opportunity for engagement and participation. By persons with RA pain has been highlighted as one of the most restrictive symptoms. This thesis uses the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a conceptual framework to describe disability and how participation is related to pain.

Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and describe the relationship between pain and participation in valued activities, in RA. Paper I compared pain and activity limitations in women and men with contemporary treated early RA with persons who were diagnosed ten years earlier. Paper II described experiences of pain and pain’s relationship with daily activities. Paper III examined difficulties performing valued life activities in relation to pain intensity. Paper IV described personal factors, including self-efficacy and pain acceptance, and studied whether personal factors are mediators of the relationbetween pain and performance of valued life activities.

Methods: Different methodological approaches were used to provide a comprehensive understanding of pain and participation in valued activities in persons with RA. A prospective longitudinal cohort study was used to compare women and men treated with contemporary treated RA (n=276) with their counterparts ten years earlier (n=373) (Paper I). This study was followed by a focus group study where 33 persons with RA participated in seven focus groups (Paper II). Subsequently, Papers III and IV were conducted based on data from The Swedish Rheumatology Quality Registry (SRQ) and data from a postal questionnaire that gathered data on demographics, pain, personal factors, and participation in valued life activities (n=737). In addition, these studies used descriptive and analytical statistics with multiple regression and structural equation modelling (SEM).

Results: Pain and activity limitations were still pronounced in women and men with RA despite recent treatment advances (Paper I). The relationship between participation and pain was dynamic and is related to fatigue, stress, and mood, factors that generated difficulties finding a suitable level of activity, resulting in difficulties balancing daily activities (Paper II). Both women and men reported restrictions in participation in valued life activities. Pain was identified as having an important relationship to difficulties performing valued life activities (Paper III). Personal factors were found important as mediators for pain in relation to participation (Paper IV).

Conclusions: This thesis found a continued need for multidisciplinary interventions despite current treatments. Pain was identified as related to participation restrictions and had an important relationship to difficulties performing valued life activities. Pain and participation in valued activities needs to be comprehensively analysed and treated in the context of the person’s perspective and needs and demands of persons with RA. The subjective experience of participation, the engagement, must be highlighted. Personal factors mediated the relationship between pain and participation and this finding supports the value of self-management interventions to enable participation in valued activities

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Jönköping: Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, 2015. p. 100
Series
Hälsohögskolans avhandlingsserie, ISSN 1654-3602 ; 61
National Category
Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hj:diva-27646 (URN)978-91-85835-60-7 (ISBN)
Public defence
2015-09-18, Forum Humanum, Hälsohögskolan, Jönköping, 13:00
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2015-08-03 Created: 2015-08-03 Last updated: 2015-12-22Bibliographically approved

Open Access in DiVA

No full text in DiVA

Other links

Publisher's full textPubMedScopus

Authority records

Ahlstrand, IngerBjörk, MathildaFalkmer, Torbjörn

Search in DiVA

By author/editor
Ahlstrand, IngerBjörk, MathildaFalkmer, Torbjörn
By organisation
HHJ, Dep. of RehabilitationHHJ. ADULT
In the same journal
Clinical Rheumatology
Health Sciences

Search outside of DiVA

GoogleGoogle Scholar

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn

Altmetric score

doi
pubmed
urn-nbn
Total: 800 hits
CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • de-DE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • sv-SE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf