Nurses' Perceptions of Patient Fibromyalgia Illness Experiences after Performing Group-Based Problem-Solving Therapy: A Qualitative Research Study

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 11; p. 1531
• Main Authors: Montesó-Curto, Pilar, Panisello-Chavarria, Maria Luisa, Sarrió-Colás, Lidia, Toussaint, Loren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 24-05-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Behavior modification; Beliefs, opinions and attitudes; Care and treatment; Content analysis; Exercise; Fatigue; Fibromyalgia; Focus groups; illness perceptions; Illnesses; Nurse practitioners; Nurses; Nursing; Pain; Patient outcomes; Patients; Perceptions; Problem solving; Problem-solving therapy; Qualitative research; qualitative study; Social aspects; Spain; qualitative study; illness perceptions; fibromyalgia; nurses; focus groups
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111531

Fibromyalgia patients experience difficulties in their daily lives that are difficult to identify and recognize due to the stigma associated with the disease. Nurses can help identify them to establish biopsychosocial coping and treatment. The main aim of this study was to explore Spanish nurses' perceptions of the illness experiences of their fibromyalgia patients. Qualitative content analysis from the etic perspective was used. Eight nurses met in focus groups to report their perceptions of the illness experiences of FM patients after led group-based problem-solving therapy in fibromyalgia patients. Four themes emerged: (1) the presence of a "specific trigger" (stressful event) for FM symptoms; (2) fulfilling expected gender roles; (3) a lack of support from the family; (4) abuse. Nurses recognize the mind-body connection after the impact of stress on patients' bodies. The expected gender roles interfere with patients' recovery because they feel frustration and guilt about not being able to fulfil them. Managing emotions and improving communication in fibromyalgia is recommended. Clinicians might also consider issues such as abuse and the absence of social-family support for the comprehensive evaluation and effective management of fibromyalgia.