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Parreira JD1, Caeiro C1
1School of Health Care of Setúbal Polytechnic Institute, Setúbal, Portugal
Background: There is growing recognition of the importance of incorporating individuals` perspectives into clinical research. Outcome measures focused on individuals` perceptions of change have been increasingly used, however they do not offer yet expanded definitions of what constitutes a “successful” outcome. The further exploration of individuals` perspectives about treatment benefits may contribute to the development of treatments that better match individuals` needs.
Purpose: The overall purpose of this study was to explore how individuals with fibromyalgia, who had classified their achievements on pain and disability as, at least “moderately better” (according to the score from the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale) after attending a group physiotherapy programme (based on exercise and education), make sense of these achievements. The specific aims were: to understand participants' perceptions of change and to explore the factors they identified as responsible for that change.
Methods: Two focus group meetings, using a semi-structured interview schedule, were carried out to collect data. Focus groups sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to conduct the study and analyse data.
Results: A total of 12 individuals (mean age: 47,8±7.8; 12 female; 83,3% diagnosed for more than 24 months) participated in the focus groups. According to this study´s findings the capacity to self-manage the condition, meet contextual demands and tolerate lower medication intake emerged as the main reasons to justify the participants` perceptions of change after the physiotherapy programme. According to the participants, the integration of new knowledge and attribution of new meaning to the disease, the integration of exercise into daily routine, the identification with the group and peer learning, and the adaptation of the physiotherapy programme to their needs, seemed to play a key role in their change.
Conclusion(s): This study`s findings called attention to the perspectives of individuals with fibromyalgia regarding aspects that contribute or may explain the change after a physiotherapy programme. Empowerment, capacity to self-manage the condition, functional ability and levels of medication were identified as key components to explain patients` perceptions of change. Further research on fibromyalgia individuals` perspectives regarding treatment effectiveness is recommended. In particular, it would be important to investigate the perspective from those patients who did not change with the physiotherapy programme.
Implications: Besides the information provided by the traditional quantitative assessment tools, fibromyalgia individuals' perspectives may offer a deeper understanding of the outcomes achieved after a physiotherapy programme. Physiotherapists may consider this information in their practice, in order to assess outcomes that are relevant for fibromyalgia individuals and plan interventions based on fibromyalgia individuals` needs. Researchers may use information from this study to develop more compliant patient reported outcomes measures with fibromyalgia individuals´ perspectives.
Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Physiotherapy, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Funding acknowledgements: This study was unfunded
Purpose: The overall purpose of this study was to explore how individuals with fibromyalgia, who had classified their achievements on pain and disability as, at least “moderately better” (according to the score from the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale) after attending a group physiotherapy programme (based on exercise and education), make sense of these achievements. The specific aims were: to understand participants' perceptions of change and to explore the factors they identified as responsible for that change.
Methods: Two focus group meetings, using a semi-structured interview schedule, were carried out to collect data. Focus groups sessions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed to conduct the study and analyse data.
Results: A total of 12 individuals (mean age: 47,8±7.8; 12 female; 83,3% diagnosed for more than 24 months) participated in the focus groups. According to this study´s findings the capacity to self-manage the condition, meet contextual demands and tolerate lower medication intake emerged as the main reasons to justify the participants` perceptions of change after the physiotherapy programme. According to the participants, the integration of new knowledge and attribution of new meaning to the disease, the integration of exercise into daily routine, the identification with the group and peer learning, and the adaptation of the physiotherapy programme to their needs, seemed to play a key role in their change.
Conclusion(s): This study`s findings called attention to the perspectives of individuals with fibromyalgia regarding aspects that contribute or may explain the change after a physiotherapy programme. Empowerment, capacity to self-manage the condition, functional ability and levels of medication were identified as key components to explain patients` perceptions of change. Further research on fibromyalgia individuals` perspectives regarding treatment effectiveness is recommended. In particular, it would be important to investigate the perspective from those patients who did not change with the physiotherapy programme.
Implications: Besides the information provided by the traditional quantitative assessment tools, fibromyalgia individuals' perspectives may offer a deeper understanding of the outcomes achieved after a physiotherapy programme. Physiotherapists may consider this information in their practice, in order to assess outcomes that are relevant for fibromyalgia individuals and plan interventions based on fibromyalgia individuals` needs. Researchers may use information from this study to develop more compliant patient reported outcomes measures with fibromyalgia individuals´ perspectives.
Keywords: Fibromyalgia, Physiotherapy, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Funding acknowledgements: This study was unfunded
Topic: Rheumatology; Pain & pain management; Musculoskeletal
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: School of Health Care of Setúbal Polytechnic Institute
Ethics committee: Specialized Research Ethics Committee
Ethics number: 14/AM/2017
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
