Abstract Background/Aims Inflammatory arthritis (IA) is an autoimmunecondition that can significantly challenge parents in managing daily parentingroles. Occupational therapy research recognises parenting as a valuedoccupation however, limited studies have specifically examined parenting in thecontext of IA. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of how IA influencesparenting experiences and the strategies employed by parents remains lacking.We aimed to synthesise qualitative literature on the lived experience ofparenting with IA from an occupational therapy perspective, to inform clinicalpractice and guide the development of occupation-based interventions forparents with IA. Methods A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES) of primary qualitative research exploring the lived experiences of parenting with IA was conducted. The study was registered on PROSPERO and the protocol was published. Eligible studies included parents with IA parenting children aged 0-21 years. Data were synthesised using the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance (PEOP) occupational therapy model. Methodological quality was appraised using the CASP checklist, and confidence in findings assessed using GRADE-CERQual. PPI co-researchers with lived experience of parenting with IA contributed throughout the evidence synthesis. Results Thirty-seven studies involving a minimum of 190parents with IA were synthesised. Seven studies focused solely on parentingwith IA, while 30 papers explored wider aspects of the lived experience of IAand included parenting references. Six person-related themes were identified(1) physical capacity, (2) mental health, (3) identity, (4) family planning andfuture (5) adaptive self-management, and (6) psychosocial impact. Environmentalfactors were categorised into four domains (1) social, (2) physical, (3)healthcare/statutory and (4) cultural expectations. Occupational impacts weremapped onto the Parenting Purposes and Occupations (POP) occupations framework, covering areas of parenting that support children’s basic, developmental, andsocial needs. Findings highlighted the profound impact of IA on parentingacross all domains of the PEOP model, particularly emotional consequences suchas guilt and perceived inadequacy in meeting parenting expectations.Environmental factors, shaped by social and cultural norms and negativehealthcare experiences further constrained parenting experiences. Evidencelargely centred on parenting younger children, with limited focus on older agegroups. Conclusion This evidence synthesis provides a comprehensive understanding of how IA shapes parents’ experiences and occupations. Our study highlights the impact of IA across the person, environment, and occupation domains of the PEOP model, emphasising the need for occupation-focused support. This QES offers a benchmark for developing practice grounded in the realities of parenting with IA, supporting occupational therapists to deliver person-centred parenting interventions. This work represents the first phase of a four-year programme to design and evaluate an intervention for parents living with IA. Disclosure C. White: None. M. McGrath: None. P. Boyd: None. A. McCoy: None. D. Mockler: None. Y. Codd: None.
White et al. (Wed,) studied this question.