Self-Management and Support Needs of Patients Experiencing Persistent Symptoms Consistent With Hypothyroidism: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: To gain insight into the self-management and support needs of patients experiencing persistent symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism, despite thyroid laboratory values within the normal range.

Methods: A qualitative study using the phenomenological approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews including 19 patients diagnosed with persistent symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism, despite receiving adequate replacement therapy, were performed. Respondents were recruited using purposive sampling via Schildklier Organisatie Nederland (Dutch Thyroid Organization) (www.schildklier.nl). After transcription and coding, a thematic analysis was performed.

Results: All respondents reported that the persistent symptoms reduced their quality of life. The patients' main focus was on finding the cause of these symptoms and balancing activities in their personal, social, and professional lives. The most frequently mentioned support need was for physicians to pay more attention to patients' symptoms. Respondents expected that this would mainly improve their mental quality of life.

Conclusions: Giving greater attention to persistent symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism in medical guidelines and (continuing) education might make general practitioners and internists more aware of these symptoms. This might help them better understand the impact of the persistent symptoms on quality of life and the support needs of patients, thereby improving the conversation between patients and physicians. This may reduce the perceived gap between patients' needs and what physicians (are able to) provide, which might support self-management of these persistent symptoms.