This study investigated the effect of supportive nursing care including modified guided imagery on the discomfort, self- esteem, erythrocyte semdimentation rate(ESR) and quality of life(Q. L.) in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (R. A.). The purpose was to contribute to the development of theoretical nursing care to enhance the Q. L. of persons with chronic illness. From Nov. 22, 1990 to May 2, 1991, 49 patients registered at a rheumatic clinic at one general hospital in Seoul, were accepted according to the research criteria as subjects for this study. Among these, 26 were selected for an experimental group to he treated with an interpersonal interview and modified guided imagery, the other 23 became the control group not treated for the purpose of measuring and comparing the effect of the treatment. Statistical analysis was done by a SAS program for X$^2$-test, unpaired t -test, Pearson correlation coefficients and factor analysis. The results were as follows : 1. The pre-experimental discomfort level of the total subject group averaged 25.42(S. D. ＝8.77), and the difference between the pre /post experimental discomfort levels of the two groups was not statistically significant. 2. The pre - experimental self- esteem scores of the total subject group averaged 27.48(S. D. ＝3.95), and the difference between the pre /post experimental self -esteem scores of the two groups was not statistically significant. 3. The pre - experimental Q. L. scores of the total subject group averaged 28.70(S. D. ＝5.99), and the difference between the pre /post experimental Q. L. score of the two groups was statistically significant (t＝2.1748, df＝47, p＝ .0347), 4. The pre - experimental mean of the ESR of the total subject group was 34.48(S. D. ＝19.50) mm, and the difference between the pre /post expeimental ESR scores of the two groups was not statistically significant. 5. The Family support scores of the total subject group averaged 41.28(S. D. ＝10.27). 6. The total subject group 0.L. score was correlated with self-exteem score (r＝ .3984, p＝ .0046). In this study, supportive nursing care including modified guided imagery increased the quality of life scores for this group of persons with R. A. significantly. So the concept of supportive nursing care of this study may be effective in enhancing the quality of life persons with chronic illness. Further investigations related to the methodology and with other groups of clients was recommended.