Factors in the Building of Effective Patient–Provider Relationships in the Context of Fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia patients face particular challenges in building relationships with health care providers. In this study, we examine, from patients’ perspectives, factors that influence the formation of effective patient–provider relationships. DESIGN: This research employed a qualitative approach to analyze data collected from a study that employed semistructured interviews. METHODS: Multiple methods were used to recruit 23 fibromyalgia patients for interviews. Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore how participants’ information behaviors, including their communication with and relationships to providers, changed over time. The interview data were analyzed using a qualitative analytic method based on interpretative phenomenological analysis and constructivist grounded theory. RESULTS: We identified three important factors that influenced the building of effective relationships: patients and providers’ interactions involving information, identifying health care providers that fit patients’ needs, and realizing shared responsibilities. With regard to information, we described three important themes: information gaps, providers as educators/facilitators, and collaborative information behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding of the key elements of relationship development between patients and providers can be utilized in various ways to improve clinical care. First, the knowledge gained in this study can inform the design of patient education materials that assist patients to identify providers that fit their needs, prepare for consultations, and develop realistic expectations for providers. The findings of this study can also inform the design of resources and tools to enable clinicians to communicate and relate better with their patients.