Assessing the benefits on quality of life of a multicomponent intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome in primary care: patients’ and health professionals’ appraisals: a qualitative study protocol

Abstract

IntroductionFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex condition still scarcely understood and with ambiguity when prescribing treatment. Both patients and healthcare providers can supply valuable information for the development of new treatment strategies. The qualitative narrative analysis of participant’s accounts is potentially helpful to reveal new insights about their opinions, needs, and experiences and, consequently, to model healthcare interventions accurately. International treatment guidelines suggest a promising future for multicomponent intervention (MI) approaches for FMS. This study aims to assess the benefits of a MI for patients with FMS in the context of primary care (PC) in Terres de L’Ebre, Catalonia (Spain). Furthermore, it is intended to detect the overall perception of effectiveness and to understand patients’ lived experience and its impact on the quality of life.Method and analysisQualitative research from a socioconstructivism paradigm perspective and a Hermeneutic Phenomenological method. For data collection, four focus group discussions (FGDs) of 8–12 people (2 FGDs of patients and 2 of professionals) and 10–12 key informant interviews with the participants in the MI group will be carried out. All the information will be recorded and verbatim transcribed to perform an interpretive thematic analysis.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee from the IDIAPJGol Institute, on 25 April 2018 (code P18/068), according to the Declaration of Helsinki/Tokyo. All participants will receive oral/written information about the study, and they will be required to sign an informed consent sheet. Data anonymity will be guaranteed. Dissemination will be carried out through publications in scientific journals, presentations in academic meetings, workshops and through the local and national media.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04049006; Pre-results.

Psychoeducation for Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Emotional, Clinical and Functional Related-Outcomes

“…The evaluated studies confirm a positive value of education in chronic pain, specifically in FMS [98,[102][103][104][105][106][107]; and its benefits on the patient's functional status [100,101,107], physical function, pain [100,101,104], fatigue, stiffness, depression [100,101], anxiety [99][100][101], and quality of life [104]. Findings are also in line with the scientific evidence suggesting that multicomponent therapies in FMS may reduce pain, fatigue, depressed mood, and health-related quality of life disabilities, as well as, improve self-efficacy, pain coping, and physical fitness, compared to the single education, WL, or TAU [104][105][106][107][113][114][115][116][117].…”

Patients’ appraisals about a multicomponent intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome in primary care: a focus group study

“…This MCI programme aims to promote patients’ literacy and skills development for FMS management, enhance their physical status and reduce their emotional distress in order to overcome psychological difficulties. Further details about the thematic contents of each session and the research specifications were published in the study protocols of the RCT study and the qualitative research (Arfuch et al, 2020 ; Caballol Angelats et al, 2019 ).…”

Patients’ Lived Experience in a Multicomponent Intervention for Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Primary Care: A Qualitative Interview Study

“…The healthcare team comprised female staff including a general practitioner, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, and each health center’s head nurse who delivered the sessions in the primary care centers. Further details of the intervention program can be found in the study protocols [ 37 , 40 ] and Appendix B .…”