{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T15:12:04Z","timestamp":1779289924032,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,5,17]],"date-time":"2019-05-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1558051200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases","award":["RAG-AJ-5.5-122016"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RAG-AJ-5.5-122016"]}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100010331","name":"Bath Spa University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["No grant number provided by funder"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["No grant number provided by funder"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100010331","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory rheumatic condition that is often subject to diagnostic delays. Individuals with axSpA report using complementary and alternative therapies prior to and following diagnosis, though little is known concerning reasons underlying use of such therapies. This study provides detailed insights into the motivation and experiences of complementary and alternative medicine use within a population of individuals with axSpA. Open-ended surveys were completed by 30 individuals (20\u201369 years; 17 females) diagnosed with axSpA. Subsequent telephone interviews were conducted with eight individuals (39\u201370 years; five females) diagnosed with axSpA. Data were analyzed using reflexive inductive thematic analysis. Themes of \u201ca learning curve\u201d, \u201cbarriers to complementary and alternative therapy use\u201d and \u201ccomplementary or mutually exclusive\u201d illustrated how participants\u201d increasing understanding of their condition empowered them to explore complementary and alternative therapies use as an adjunct to mainstream care. Individuals with axSpA recommended greater integration between mainstream and complementary and alternative therapies, valuing informed advice from mainstream healthcare professionals before selecting appropriate complementary and alternative therapies for potential use. Healthcare professionals should be proactive in discussing complementary and alternative therapy use with patients and supply them with details of organizations that can provide good-quality information.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm8050699","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,5,17]],"date-time":"2019-05-17T11:06:46Z","timestamp":1558091206000},"page":"699","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Qualitative Exploration of Self-Management"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1595-5574","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abbie","family":"Jordan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Hannah","family":"Family","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kelly","family":"Blaxall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Fiona M.","family":"Begen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9720-0396","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Raj","family":"Sengupta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath BA1 1RL, UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,5,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dagfinrud, H., Kvien, T.K., and Hagen, K.B. 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