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Research Article  |   July 2004
Transformation of Meaning Perspectives in Clients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Claire-Jehanne Dubouloz; Diane Laporte; Martha Hall; Brenda Ashe; C. Douglas Smith
Author Affiliations
  • Claire-Jehanne Dubouloz, PhD, OTR(ON), is Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy Program; Director, School of Rehabilitation Sciences; and Associate Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L5, Canada; dubouloz@uottawa.ca
  • Diane Laporte, BSc, OTR(ON), is Research Assistant, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Martha Hall, MA, BSc, OTR(ON), is Occupational Therapist, Consultation and Rehabilitation Service of the Arthritis Society of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Brenda Ashe, MA, BSc, OTR(ON), is Occupational Therapist, The Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • C. Douglas Smith, MD, FRCP(C), is Head, Division of Rheumatology, The Arthritis Centre, The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Article Information
Arthritis / Musculoskeletal Impairments / Rheumatoid Arthritis / Meanings, Experiences, and Perceptions of Adults With Physical Disabilities
Research Article   |   July 2004
Transformation of Meaning Perspectives in Clients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, July/August 2004, Vol. 58, 398-407. doi:10.5014/ajot.58.4.398
American Journal of Occupational Therapy, July/August 2004, Vol. 58, 398-407. doi:10.5014/ajot.58.4.398
Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the process of transformation of personal beliefs, values, feelings, and knowledge (meaning perspectives) underlying occupational change in a small group of clients with rheumatoid arthritis during home-based rehabilitation. A grounded theory approach used to collect and analyze data concurrently included: (1) a sample of five adult clients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in occupational therapy, (2) data collection through 28 semi-directed interviews, and (3) data analysis using the constant comparison method. The study identified meaning perspectives of these clients with rheumatoid arthritis and explored the transformation of perspectives related to the modification of occupational performance. The study suggests that the exploration of meaning perspective transformation by clients and therapists could be a potential part of rehabilitation intervention.