It was possible to combine the concepts of the focus groups from each centre into a common qualitative analysis. The concepts important to people with hand OA are not fully represented in the most commonly used instruments.

The objective of the research was to construct a brief coping questionnaire designed to assess the approach-avoidance dichotomy. A 20-item questionnaire was designed and tested in samples of 206 students and 93 patients. Based on empirical analyses and interviews with patients, 12 items were chosen for the nal scale, which was named the Brief Approach/Avoidance Coping Questionnaire (BACQ). BACQ was then tested in a clinical sample of 299 primary care patients. A Cronbach's alpha of 0.68 was found in a primary care sample. In testing concurrent validity, BACQ indexes correlated signi cantly with relevant COPE sub-scales in a 0.34 to 0.57 range. A factor structure based on a two-factor solution gave one bipolar factor, ranging from active approach to resignation and withdrawal, and a second factor with items indicating diversion. In conclusion, the 12-item BACQ is a brief measure of coping strategies with satisfactory psychometric properties. The instrument is designed to measure a general concept of approach versus avoidance oriented coping, but the ndings also point to two sub-dimensions of avoidant coping, resignation/withdrawal and diversion.

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Objective. To explore how intimate relationships and sexuality are influenced by rheumatic diseases and to describe self-management strategies used to manage disease consequences. Methods. To ensure that data were grounded in patients' language and experiences, individual and focus group interviews were conducted. Purposeful sampling was used to ensure variation in age, sex, disease duration, diagnosis, and marital status among the informants. Participants were men and women ages 18 years or older, were diagnosed with inflammatory rheumatic disease by a rheumatologist, and had a disease duration of >2 years. Results. The mean age of the 23 participants was 44 years, the mean disease duration was 13.6 years, and the mean ؎ SD modified Health Assessment Questionnaire score was 1.58 ؎ 0.46. Four key themes summarized the main issues described by the informants: between disease and normality, relational aspects, disease-related sexual challenges, and self-management strategies. The results reveal that the disease constituted a disruption in life, requiring a new orientation of sexual identity and relationship. Participants' experiences of sexuality went beyond specific sexual activity, including aspects such as body image and relational issues, illustrating a multidimensional perception of sexuality. A large interand intrapersonal variety of impact and a wide range of management strategies were reported. Conclusion. This study shows that sexuality is a vital area of life for people living with arthritis. It is a source of physical pleasure and intimacy with their partner, but may cause anxiety and distress when affected by rheumatic disease. However, various self-management strategies are applied to enhance intimate relationships and sexual activity. Knowledge and openness concerning sexual issues need to be emphasized as part of the competence of health professionals and researchers.

The aim of the study is to describe how expert nurses perform constant observation of patients with suicidal ideation. A qualitative content analysis is used to analyse individual and focus group interviews of five nurses. One main finding is identified: organizing phases and transitional phases formed during constant observation and the creation of a therapeutic relation. The findings are explained and discussed. In summary, the findings show that constant observation of inpatients with suicidal ideation seems to consist of two main aspects. One refers to its phases and consists primarily of assessing the need for control and controlling the patient from self-harm. The other aspect refers to the relationship between the nurse and the patient during a period of constant observation. There is a dynamic relation between structure and flexibility, and between control and the development of a therapeutic relationship between the patient and the nurse. The therapeutic relation is important when staff assess the need to continue round-the-clock observation.