Nursing care for rheumatic disease: Support for those living with chronic illness from a psychosocial point of view

Abstract

  When trying to connect with people living with rheumatic diseases, it is important to consider the features of the diseases’ chronic progression and the continuing routines of daily life for the people living with that chronicity. When forming concepts about living with illness from investigating an individual’s past experiences and inquiring into the personal meanings that arise thereof（Amano）, chronically ill people living daily lives should be considered along with their personal pasts and experiences, which have led to their present ways of thinking and lifestyles and created difference and uniqueness. When considering care, these differences and unique aspects should then be connected with the precious themes that have been explored as expressions of that humanity.

  Taking the concept of a person living with chronic illness on a daily basis as a starting point and considering a lifestyle with chronic illness, we can see the difference between illness and disease, their different acute and chronic characteristics, and the need for a paradigm shift in care. Furthermore, we can consider the importance of the meaning of the "lived experience" associated with rheumatoid arthritis as chronic illness.