+1 (629)348-3199Perceptions of empowerment among rheumatoid arthritis patients and their healthcare providers: A descriptive qualitative study
28th International Conference on Nursing Care
May 23-24, 2019 | Vienna, Austria
Siriwan Lim, Violeta Lopez, Hong-gu He and Manjari Lahiri
National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore
Scientific Tracks Abstracts : J Intensive Crit Care Nurs
Abstract:
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic
condition that causes patients to experience progressive
pain, fatigue, loss of bodily function and involve multiple
organ systems. Patients who are well informed and have
good knowledge about their medication are most likely
to have safer and better management of their condition.
Studies have shown patients living with chronic diseases
who are empowered have better control of their condition.
There is currently limited research looking into patient
empowerment among RA patients in Asian population.
Objective: To explore the perception of empowerment
among rheumatoid arthritis patients and their healthcare
providers (HCPs) in Singapore.
Method: This is a descriptive qualitative study using
a purposive sampling of adult patients and their HCPs
who were recruited from a local healthcare outpatient
Rheumatology clinic. The final sample size was determined
through data saturation. Data collected from face-to-face
interviews and focus groups interviews were analysed
using thematic analysis.
Results: The themes that emerged from the patients and
HCPs group showed both groups have common themes
related to factors that facilitate and inhibit empowerment.
Themes that empower patients included: 1) exercising
HCPs ‘power’ to empower RA patient and 2) mobilising
resources to empower patients. Themes that negate
patient empowerment were: 1) limited health literacy and
2) limitation of healthcare services delivery and funding.
Conclusion: The results show there is a need for intervention
to address the gaps in the patients’ empowerment level.
Biography:
Siriwan Lim is a Senior Lecturer at Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS). She is trained as a Critical Care Nurse, Infection Control Practitioner and Nurse Educator. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Philosophy in NUS. Her research areas of interest are chronic diseases and patient empowerment, nursing innovation in education and inter-professional education.
E-mail: nursl@nus.edu.sg
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