Abstract

A healthy lifestyle should be recommended to all patients with inflammatory arthritis due to the increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Healthcare professionals (HPs) are essential in supporting patients to achieve healthy lifestyle habits and are expected to follow international and national lifestyle management guidelines. Despite this, few studies have studied HPs’ perceptions of working on lifestyle management.

Aim

To explore HPs’ perceptions of working on lifestyle management for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

In this qualitative study, individual interviews were conducted with 20 HPs. Qualitative content analysis was used, and three categories and six subcategories were identified.

Results

HPs’ perceptions of working on lifestyle management for patients with early RA revealed a need for commitment from different levels. This included commitment from healthcare managers and organizations prioritizing work on lifestyle management and providing competence development for HPs. Commitment within the team regarding coordination of interdisciplinary teamwork and development of a structured lifestyle management approach, and commitment to involving patients in lifestyle management, by facilitating patient engagement and a person-centred approach.

Conclusions

HPs’ perceptions of working on lifestyle management for patients with early RA revealed that commitment from healthcare managers, organizations, and the interdisciplinary team was essential to facilitate collaboration, patient involvement, and a person-centred approach.

Details

Title
Healthcare professionals’ perceptions of working on lifestyle management for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis — a qualitative study
Author
Klara Drake Af Hagelsrum 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Mogard, Elisabeth 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bremander, Ann 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Lindqvist, Elisabet 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Larsson, Ingrid 4 

1  School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden; Department of Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden 
2  Department of Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden; Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden 
3  Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Spenshult Research and Development Centre, Halmstad, Sweden; Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Sonderborg, Denmark 
4  School of Health and Welfare, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden; Section of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Spenshult Research and Development Centre, Halmstad, Sweden 
Publication year
2023
Publication date
Dec 2023
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
ISSN
17482623
e-ISSN
17482631
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2241225
ProQuest document ID
2894621662
Copyright
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution – Non-Commercial License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.