Behavioral Determinants of Self-Management Behaviors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: A Qualitative Study

Background: Self-management behaviors (SMB) play a significant role in controlling the adverse effects of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a chronic disease. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to explore the behavioral determinants of SMB who suffer from RA. Methods: This is a qualitative study with directed approach to content analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews. A total of 30 RA patients (15 in good and 15 in worst SMB) were recruited in this study based on the PRECEDE model (predisposing factor). The participants were recruited using a purposeful sampling to reach the maximum variation sampling. This sampling took over 6 months in 2015 at the Rheumatology Clinic in the Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Results: Five main theme and 14 sub-categories came out from the interviews. The main themes include: perceived benefit, perceived severity, perceived barrier, attitude, and self-efficacy. Most of the participants considered self-efficacy and perceived barrier as the most significant determinants of SMB in RA patients. Conclusions: The study provided better understanding of behavioral determinants of SMB in RA patients, the finding suggested that improving self-efficacy and eliminating barriers in RA patients can help researcher, physician, health worker, and planner design proper program and strategy in order to improve SMB and their health.