(In)Visible illness: A photovoice study of the lived experience of self-managing rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic illnesses, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), are a growing burden on health care systems worldwide. Self-management emphasises the patient's central role in managing their illness. This is pertinent given the majority of care is provided by the individual themselves; yet how individuals make sense of self-management in everyday life is largely unseen.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to capture the strengths and concerns of individuals with RA in self-managing their illness, raise awareness of their lived experience and spark a dialogue among stakeholders.

Methods

A community-based participatory approach, Photovoice, was adopted. A purposive sample of participants were tasked with taking photographs to represent the challenges and solutions

SUBMITTER: Donnelly S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7939378 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature