It Is Like a Puppet Show-Experiences of Rheumatoid Arthritis Among Adult Chinese: A Qualitative Study

Rheumatoid arthritis results in progressive destruction of the joints. However, descriptions of patient’s experiences with the disease are limited. This qualitative study aimed to explore patients’ personal experiences with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 30 patients from January to May 2019; interview data were analyzed with content analysis. Most participants were female (90%); their mean age was 57 years. Three main categories emerged from analysis of the data: “physical suffering,” “limitations of abilities,” and “coexisting with the disease.” Physical suffering was due to personal lifelong hardships from chronic pain and stiffness. Limitations of abilities occurred from loss of physical function and limited social life, due to participants discomfort with joint deformities and their appearance to others. Participants coexisted with the disease by making changes in their outlook and comparing their lives with others in order to gain a positive perspective.