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The experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis admitted to hospital focused on 5 interrelated themes

Main findings 5 interrelated themes were identified. The first theme involved the uncertainty that women experienced before and during their first admission with RA. Feelings of uncertainty ranged from nervousness to actual fear. Fear of the unknown was prominent as patients expected that “something would be done to them”, and were concerned about what that “something” would be. Fears about intra-articular injections caused substantial stress. The second theme referred to patients’ evolution from novice to experienced patients. With subsequent admissions, the fear and uncertainty of the first admission evolved to a sense of belonging and comfort. Patients came to see hospital admission as a learning experience, with their increased knowledge helping them to cope with future admissions. They became experts and mentors for novice RA patients. The third theme focused on the effects of other patients. Patients expressed a strong sense of comradeship, and the process of sharing experiences with others was described as invaluable; however, 2 of the younger patients (ages 24 and 26 y) expressed that contact with older patients was a negative experience. Although acknowledging that meeting peers with RA who could act as role models was helpful, they were distressed at witnessing the deformed joints of older patients, thinking that their own disease would progress in similar ways. They also spoke of the negative social effects, complaining that they were bored and had nothing in common with older patients. The fourth theme related to the knowledge and experience of the staff. All patients were confident in the abilities of ward staff. The fifth theme, loss of privacy, was unique to the 2 younger patients who felt that their emotional and personal needs were rarely considered. The negative effect of RA on body image was intensified by admission to hospital. Experiences such as relying on nurses for intimate personal needs and undressing in front of staff on consultant rounds were particularly distressing.