SOCIAL SUPPORT, RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS AND QUALITY-OF-LIFE - CONCEPTS, MEASUREMENT AND RESEARCH

In recent years, medical technology has improved considerably and the possibilities to replace destructed parts of the body that have been a ffected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), have grown also. However, the av ailability and application of advanced techniques does not automatical ly entail an improvement of quality of life of individuals. Although t he physical (dis)ability of RA patients very often leads to certain re strictions, it is not the only element in the evaluation of life-as-a- whole. The way in which the RA-patient copes with the uncertainty of t omorrow and the management of pain and fatigue is another important el ement in evaluating quality of life. Beside personality factors, socia l network and social support are regarded to play an important role in this respect and subsequently in the well-being of individuals in gen eral, and especially where it concerns individuals suffering from a ch ronic disease. Today, a growing number of evidence of the beneficial i mpact of social support is available of which some of them are discuss ed.