TY - JOUR
T1 - Coping with fibromyalgia - a focus group study
AU - Hamama, Liat
AU - Itzhaki, Michal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Fibromyalgia
KW - constant comparative analysis
KW - coping
KW - focus group
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85153123448&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17482631.2023.2204622
DO - 10.1080/17482631.2023.2204622
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C2 - 37074672
AN - SCOPUS:85153123448
SN - 1748-2623
VL - 18
JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
IS - 1
M1 - 2204622
ER -