Abstract
Background: Systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are characterized by being chronic diseases, of progressive evolution, affecting the person, namely the elderly, in their various dimensions and are often associated with pain, loss of mobility and function, changes in body image, fatigue, anxiety and depression. The complex needs of the elderly people with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases require advanced nursing practice based on conceptual models that guide and structure specialized nursing care in Medical-Surgical Nursing for the Elderly. Objectives: To understand the experiences of elderly people with rheumatic disease treated with biological agents and who attend a consultation at a central hospital in the Lisbon region. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study, using semi-structured interviews and content analysis; The interviews were conducted in a group of elderly people aged ? 65 years, diagnosed with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, treated with biological therapy and attending the rheumatology nursing consultation. Results: After analysing the content of the interviews carried out in 10 elderly people, it was found that rheumatic diseases have implications in the everyday life of the elderly person in physical, emotional and social domains; it is important that older people have information about disease management; the needs most mentioned by these people were: obtaining information on strategies to deal with the disease, namely pain control and having greater availability of the health professionals to clarify doubts, especially through telephonic calls. Conclusions: Nurses in rheumatology nursing clinic should monitor elderly people with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, treated with biological therapy to improve management of their chronic disease and promote the Care-of-the-Self.
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