Coping with fibromyalgia - a focus group study

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Fibromyalgia
• coping
• focus group
• constant comparative analysis
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the women that willingly participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Informed consent

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee. The study was approved by the University Ethics Committee (approval number: 0004180–1). All participants provided their informed consent before participating in this study.

Availability of data and materials

Data used for this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors’ contribution

Both authors contributed equally to the study design, data analysis and manuscript preparation.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2204622.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency.

Notes on contributors

Liat Hamama

Liat Hamama. School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Research interests: Stressful/traumatic situations/illness, personal and environmental resources, coping and subjective well-being.

Michal Itzhaki

Michal Itzhaki. Nursing Department, School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Research interests: Emotional management, resilience of patients and caregivers, caring science and mixed methods study designs.