OBJECTIVE: To explore how people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) perceive leisure activities. METHOD: A phenomenographic approach using semi-structured interviews to explore the impact of RA on leisure pursuits was used. RESULTS: Three descriptive categories containing 11 conceptions emerged: (1) Experiencing constraints included four conceptions: seeing limitations, needing time, finding balance, being dependent. (2) Experiencing coherence included four conceptions: accepting feelings participating in a social context, being active, having insight. (3) Finding solutions included three conceptions: choosing, planning, and adapting. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the limited choices and problems people with RA had participating in leisure activities, as well as its impact on self-esteem. Copyright (c) 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: To explore how people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) perceive leisure activities. METHOD: A phenomenographic approach using semi-structured interviews to explore the impact of RA on leisure pursuits was used. RESULTS: Three descriptive categories containing 11 conceptions emerged: (1) Experiencing constraints included four conceptions: seeing limitations, needing time, finding balance, being dependent. (2) Experiencing coherence included four conceptions: accepting feelings participating in a social context, being active, having insight. (3) Finding solutions included three conceptions: choosing, planning, and adapting. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the limited choices and problems people with RA had participating in leisure activities, as well as its impact on self-esteem. Copyright (c) 2005 Whurr Publishers Ltd.