A Qualitative Study On Self-management Needs Of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective:The qualitative meta-integration and phenomenological research methods are used to understand the needs of self-management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,and to provide a theoretical basis for constructing self-management projects that meet the needs of patients and better providing self-management support.Methods:Part Ⅰ:Comprehensively search the literatures on the self-management support needs of rheumatoid arthritis patients in domestic and foreign databases for systematic evaluation and meta-integration;Part Ⅱ:Using the phenomenological research method,a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted with patients in stable RA hospitalization in a top three hospital in Nanjing to understand their needs for self-management support.All interviews were recorded and verbatim transcribed to integrate,classify,and refine the material.Results:13 studies were included for systematic review and meta-integration,all of which were foreign literatures and there were no studies from China.The quality level of the literatures was grade B.Three outcomes were integrated:RA patients need material support,emotional support,and social support for self-management.To further explore the needs of Chinese RA patients for self-management support.Four topics were analyzed through data analysis:the status of self-management of RA patients;the influencing factors affecting self-management behavior of RA patients;the self-management needs of RA patients;RA patients’ expectations of the self-management project.Conclusion:RA patients in China lack cognitive self-management and should provide material,emotional and social support for their self-management.It is urgent to construct and carry out self-management programs with Chinese characteristics and meeting the needs of RA patients,which is based on self-management needs of RA patients.Pay attention to assessing the support system of patients,providing multi-dimensional and personalized support to improve the self-management ability of RA patients,focusing on the emotional needs of RA self-management process,and help patients grow after trauma.The authors put forward suggestions for the construction of China’s RA self-management project.The next step is to build a self-management project that meets the needs of RA patients based on the results of this study and promote its application in clinical practice.