• Ying Hu, Wenhui Zhu, Xiaocong Wang, Yuefan Yu, Kangle Shi, and Qinggang Meng.
• School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
• Patient Prefer Adher. 2024 Jan 1; 18: 142314331423-1433.

BackgroundThis qualitative study, part of a prospective mixed-methods research, aimed to gain insights into the medical experiences and disease perceptions of Chinese patients living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Specifically, the study examined how RA patients' perceptions of their disease were influenced by the diagnosis and treatment they receive.MethodsRA patients undergoing treatment were invited to participate in this qualitative study. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 18 patients, and the collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe 18 participants in this study had a mean (SD) age of 58, a median disease duration of 6.5 years, and a predominance of female subjects (17 out of 18). The qualitative analysis identified two themes with six sub-themes: 1. Patients' experiences of treatment: discovery of the disease, misdiagnosis and mistreatment, and patients' treatment choices; 2. Feelings about the disease: psychological impact, reflections on the disease, and expectations of treatment.ConclusionThis study provides valuable perspectives and data to enhance the understanding of the relationship between patients' illness perceptions and their healthcare choices.© 2024 Hu et al.

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