Article

OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' experiences of foot problems associated with
rheumatoid arthritis, from onset of symptoms to being provided with foot health
interventions. DESIGN: A qualitative design was used with an interpretive
phenomenological approach to the data collection and analysis. SETTING:
University of Salford, School of Health Science. Subjects: Sixteen female and six
male adults with rheumatoid arthritis-related foot problems and experience of
receiving foot health interventions. METHOD: Data were collected through digital
recordings of three focus groups which were conducted by an experienced
researcher. An observer made field notes. Transcribed data were analysed using a
thematic framework. Data were verified with randomly selected participants and
agreement achieved with the participants, researcher and observer. RESULTS: The
results were organized into five themes: the significance of foot symptoms in
relation to diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis; knowledge of and explanation about
foot symptoms; accessing foot health interventions; the effectiveness of foot
health interventions; and improvements to foot health interventions. Despite foot
problems being of concern to the participants, they were often ignored by
practitioners from before diagnosis through to foot management. CONCLUSIONS: This
study has highlighted a polarity between what these participants need in relation
to their foot symptoms and the management of them. That foot problems are often
ignored is of concern at multiple levels. These range from the implications of
ignoring foot symptoms that may aid diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, to
ignoring the need for effective foot health interventions.

Langue : ANGLAIS