Living with a chronic disease: A quantitative study of the views of patients with a chronic disease on the change in their life situation

OBJECTIVES: Chronic diseases have an impact on and change patient’s lives which means that they need to find ways to cope with the new situation. The aim was to describe how the chronic disease has influenced patients’ views of their life situation. METHODS: The study was quantitative in design with data collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to compare similarities and differences between patients with asthma-allergy, diabetes mellitus, cancer and inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: Changes in their life were experienced as a negative outcome for the majority of participants. Support can be in the form of interpersonal support from various persons, but also from activities and beliefs/religion. Family and friends as well as healthcare professionals were identified as being most supportive. Sadness and worry were the most common emotions among the participants and their surrounding networks. CONCLUSION: People with a chronic disease have to live with the consequences the disease has for their life situation. They need to find strategies to cope with the negative outcome in their new life. Support from their own network and healthcare professionals can be helpful in the new life situation.