Self‐care behaviours and trajectory management by people with scleroderma in northeastern Thailand

Abstract

Scleroderma, particularly systemic sclerosis, is a chronic illness that affects a person's physical, emotional, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions. To investigate self-care deficits, health behaviours, and trajectory management of Thai people with systemic sclerosis, an exploratory case study method was used through interviews and patient records. Self-care deficit nursing theory and the chronic illness trajectory framework guided the research. Twelve patients with systemic sclerosis were purposively recruited at a hospital clinic in the northeastern region of Thailand. Thai people living with systemic sclerosis developed specific self-care agencies in each of 3 identified trajectory patterns to improve their health and well-being. By applying the theory and framework that guided the research, nurses can promote self-care behaviours and recognize situations along an illness trajectory that require intervention and management. The results extend the understanding of how people live and cope with systemic sclerosis.

The Rising Challenge of Poor Health Literacy of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: Preliminary Data Identify Important Unmet Needs in an Italian Cohort

“…For example, adherence to pharmacological therapy is of paramount importance, and substantial lifestyle and behavioral adjustments are key in everyday life. Moreover, learning to cope with the psychological and social implications is mandatory to help effectively manage the disease [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. In fact, in SSc, adherence to self-care behaviors has led to better outcomes, including greater muscle strength, mobility, and health-related quality of life [ 7 , 8 ].…”