Qualitative research in rheumatology: A personal perspective

Abstract

As the title suggests, today's presentation draws on my personal experience of using qualitative research in rheumatology. However there is more than one 'personal perspective' woven through my presentation. I will also draw on the personal experiences of a number of people who live with chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Two years ago at the NZHPR conference here in Rotorua I presented a paper entitled "Exploring the realities: the lived experience of chronic rheumatoid arthritis". The paper was based on a single participant phenomenological case study I had undertaken in 1995. Today's presentation builds on this work, and is drawn from my current research study that explores the question "what is the nature of the phenomenon living with chronic rheumatoid arthritis?"