The Effect of the Fibrotherapy Intervention Program on the Coping Patterns of Fibromyalgia Patients

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome is characterized by physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and sleep disorders, as well as mental symptoms that include depression, mental exhaustion, and a sense of hopelessness. The current study focuses on 3 main strategies used by FM patients living in communities in the Gaza Envelope who are under constant security threat: problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance. METHODS: The study introduces a groundbreaking intervention program based on a fibrotherapy intervention (FTI) program developed at the Rehabilitation Center “Ezra Le'Marpeh” led by Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Firer. The cohort study sample consists of 96 women who have been diagnosed with FM and have participated in the FTI program for 10 weeks. The study uses mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative analyses in which 16 women from the sample were interviewed. In addition to collecting demographic information and medical data, the study used the Brief Cope questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings corroborate the hypothesis and show a difference between the coping patterns of FM patients before and after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The sharing experience as a part of the FTI program can lead FM patients to adopt positive disease management strategies, which may improve their quality of life.