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

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) disrupts patients’ biopsychosocial spheres. A multicomponent intervention (MCI) program, which combined health education, cognitive behavioral therapy, and physical activity, was conducted in South Catalonia’s primary care centers with the aim of improving symptom self-management and quality of life. A qualitative interview study was carried out to understand patients’ lived experiences during the intervention program. Sampled purposively, 10 patients were interviewed via phone calls and face-to-face. The encounters were audio-recorded, verbatim transcribed, and analyzed through thematic analysis. As a result, four themes emerged: legitimizing fibromyalgia through the MCI, the MCI as a socializing experience, learning how to live with FMS through the MCI, and room for improving the MCI. Participants agreed on the program being an insightful experience that promoted illness knowledge and acceptance and that improved their coping skills and symptom self-management. The inclusion of additional psychological guidance, expressive psychological group therapy, and providing relatives with information were proposed for enhancing the program. Our findings have contributed to gaining insight into the subjective impact of the MCI and identifying new therapeutic targets to tailor the program to patients’ needs, which will hopefully increase its effectiveness and improve their quality of life.

Factores biopsicosociales y calidad de vida en fibromialgia desde la terapia ocupacional. Un estudio cualitativo.

“…De las mujeres entrevistadas, seis han afirmado tener que abandonar actividades de ocio debido a los síntomas de la enfermedad. Las actividades recreativas actúan como un distractor que genera un estado de ánimo positivo y con capacidad de inhibir el dolor, por lo que el abandono de estas ocupaciones puede ocasionar un declive de la sintomatología (Arfuch et al, 2022). La naturaleza impredecible de los síntomas de la Fibromialgia también ocasiona una restricción en la participación social, según los datos recabados de cuatro personas entrevistadas.…”

Usefulness of a Multicomponent Group Intervention Program for Fibromyalgia Patients in Primary Care: A Qualitative Study of Health Professionals

“…From the patients’ point of view [ 39 , 41 ], the program was positively valued for its holistic approach, which helped them gain knowledge and acceptance of the disease. The patients also highlighted the improvements in their coping skills and ability to self-manage their symptoms, the health benefits that include the alleviation of suffering and the promotion of the legitimacy of FM.…”

The lived experience of mothers living with fibromyalgia syndrome: A phenomenological inquiry

“…The lived experience of motherhood and daily life for women with fibromyalgia remains largely unexplored in the literature (Arfuch et al., 2022; Ashe et al., 2017; Juhlin et al., 2023; Peñacoba et al., 2018), potentially hindering optimal care provision. Employing phenomenology, a qualitative research approach focused on meaning‐making through lived experiences, this study explored the lived experiences of motherhood and daily life among women diagnosed with fibromyalgia.…”