Coping with fibromyalgia - a focus group study

PURPOSE: Fibromyalgia affects patients’ quality of life. Therefore, an essential part of patients’ medical management is to develop appropriate coping strategies. This study aimed to obtain a comprehensive picture of patients’ cognitive and behavioural strategies to cope with fibromyalgia. METHODS: A qualitative design was conducted based on the grounded theory method. Two focus group discussion sessions were held with 15 Israeli women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. A constant comparative analysis method was utilized. RESULTS: The findings of themes related to women’s coping with fibromyalgia included: Emotional coping, with two categories: (a) from repression and despair to acceptance and completion, and (b) a range of negative and positive emotions; Practical coping, with three categories: (a) the agonizing process of receiving/internalizing the diagnosis, (b) living with the symptoms, and (c) changing lifestyle; Coping with the social environment, with three categories: (a) sharing vs. concealing, (b) social connection—disconnection, and (c) environmental resources. In addition, we identified a theme on the patients’ perceptions of the causes of their fibromyalgia that effect their coping, with three categories: (a) demanding lifestyle; (b) traumatic life events; and (c) personality trait—perfectionism. CONCLUSION: It would be desirable for rheumatology units to have an interdisciplinary professional team to work together with patients to consider how best to manage and effectively cope with their condition.