British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(7), July 2012, pp.313-320.
Publisher:
Sage
This study compared women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the normal population in order to assess whether participation in committed activities (those they were obliged to perform) or discretionary activities (those for recreation and pleasure) were associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It also looked at whether there have been changes over the last ten years. The study
This study compared women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the normal population in order to assess whether participation in committed activities (those they were obliged to perform) or discretionary activities (those for recreation and pleasure) were associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It also looked at whether there have been changes over the last ten years. The study involved 238 females with RA living in Norway (mean age 57.4 years, mean duration of disease 15 years). Self-reported participation in activities was measured by the Interest Checklist divided into committed and discretionary activities for the past 10 years, the previous year and present. HRQoL was measured by the Short-Form 36. There was a significant decrease in participation in both committed and discretionary activities over the 10-year period for women with RA. High participation in committed activities was significantly associated with good physical function, whereas high participation in discretionary activities was associated with both psychological wellbeing and good physical function. Higher education was associated with high participation in activities, particularly in discretionary activities. The authors suggest that it is important for occupational therapists and other health professionals to assist females with RA, and especially those with less education, to maintain essential discretionary activities because this is associated with psychological wellbeing.
Subject terms:
leisure activities, occupational therapy, participation, quality of life, women, activities of daily living, arthritis, educational performance;