Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
2771369 Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism 2013 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the interaction of physical function and emotional well-being on disease-related parameters and coping with rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among 177 RA patients included demographic and disease-related variables as well as the following patient-reported outcome measures: Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) (physical function), Mental Component Summary Scale of the SF-36 (MCSS) for emotional well-being, Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index (RADAI), and Coping with Rheumatoid Arthritis Questionnaire (C-RAQ). Based on HAQ-DI and MCSS, six categories representing various levels of physical and emotional impairment were formed. Multivariate analysis of variance and a subsequent discriminant analysis were used to evaluate whether demographic and disease-related variables and coping strategies differed between these categories.ResultsPatients with moderate to high impairment of physical function and emotional well-being reported significantly higher disease activity and a more frequent use of distancing and active problem solving coping strategies than patients with low-level impairment (p<0.001–0.043). Furthermore, these patients reported experiencing significantly higher levels of helplessness (p<0.001–0.032). Results from the discriminant analysis highlighted a combination of disease activity and helplessness to differentiate best between patients with either low or high impairment of physical function and emotional well-being (p<0.001).ConclusionAside from perceived disease activity, helplessness, and distancing as well as active problem solving allowed for a good discrimination between the different levels of impairment of physical function and emotional well-being. Encouraging and educating patients on how to cognitively reframe their current situation might play a key role in reducing the level of helplessness resulting from impairments of physical function and emotional well-being.

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