Objective: To investigate whether individuals with Ménière's disorder are able to recognize positive experiences associated with their condition.
Study design and setting: Open-ended questionnaire sent to a sample of members of the Finnish Ménière Federation.
Patients: Two hundred seventy-two members of the Finnish Ménière Federation reporting a diagnosis compatible with the condition.
Intervention: Postal questionnaire.
Main outcome measure: Number of respondents listing positive experiences related to their condition. Categories of responses listed and number of responses within the different categories.
Results: One hundred eighty-one responded; 75% of respondents listed positive experiences associated with their Ménière's disorder. These were categorized into 6 themes: (1) Personal Development; (2) Leisure, Lifestyle, and General Health; (3) Managing the Disorder; (4) Ménière's Disease-specific Responses; (5) Ménière's Society-related Responses; and (6) Interrelationships with Others. The largest number of responses (85) was in the Ménière's Disease-specific Responses category and most related to a better understanding of the condition. The most common response in Interrelationships with Others was Empathy with Other Sufferers. The most beneficial with regard to the disease was the answer for Lifestyle because "they have learned to fulfill their own needs." Giving a positive answer was significantly correlated with Quality of Life.
Conclusion: Most individuals with Ménière's disorder are able to identify a number of positive experiences associated with the condition. Understanding and having knowledge of these positive experiences help the patients cope with chronic conditions such as Ménière's disorder. Promotion of positive experiences may form a key element to better adjustment to the different symptoms and provide a key element for successful peer support program.