Illness Experiences in Women with Oral Dryness as a Result of Sjögren's Syndrome: The Patient Point of View.

Background: Sjögren's syndrome and the associated dryness can have multiple consequences. The aim of the present qualitative study was to give an in-depth account of the life experiences of women with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and health-related behaviours, and to summarize these experiences in an integrated model.

Methods: Twelve women diagnosed with pSS who regularly attended the Hospital of the University of Chile participated in detailed interviews.