Bakgrund Pain, stiffness and functional restriction of the joints are the main problems experienced by patients with inflammatory rheumatic conditions. The majority of patients with rheumatic diseases require several drugs every day. Adherence is highest among patients who have repeatedly been given drug information by a nurse from the start of the treatment. When developing patient information, it is essential to utilise patients' experiences. The aim of this study was to describe variations in how patients with rheumatic diseases conceive drug information given by a rheumatology nurse.

Metod Fifteen informants who had been prescribed one or several new drugs during the period of hospitalisation were approached, agreed to take part in the study and were interviewed. Strategic sampling was carried out in order to achieve variation in conceptions of the phenomenon in terms of sex, age, marital status, education, type of rheumatic disease, disease duration and type of new drug

Resultat Three descriptive categories comprising seven conceptions emerged and revealed how the patients conceived the information about new medication provided by a nurse. Drug information led to Autonomy, Power and Security. Autonomy was based on the patients' experiences of taking responsibility and participating. Power meant gaining knowledge and being motivated to take the drug. Security involved trust, experiencing care and access to a rheumatology nurse.

Sammanfattning Patients with a rheumatic disease experienced that drug information from a rheumatology nurse gave them autonomy, power and security. These factors could explain why information from a nurse increases drug treatment adherence.