This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hammond, A. Articles by Freeman, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hammond, A. Articles by Freeman, K. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Community patient education and exercise for people with fibromyalgia: a parallel group randomized controlled trial

Rheumatology Department, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK, a-hammond{at}btconnect.com

Kaye Freeman

Rheumatology Department, Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a community patient education -exercise programme, using a cognitive-behavioural approach, for people with fibromyalgia.

Design: A randomized, parallel group trial with assessments at 0, 4 and 8 months.

Setting: Community leisure centres.

Subjects: People with fibromyalgia (n=183) attending a rheumatology outpatient department at a large district general hospital.

Interventions: Participants were randomized to a patient education-exercise group (n=97) or relaxation (attention control) group (n=86).

Main measures: The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (0-80; lower score means better health). Secondary outcomes included: the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale(pain and other symptoms subscales: 1 -10 scale; higher scores mean greater self-efficacy) and self-reported improvement.

Results: Fifty participants withdrew or were unable to attend and 133 completed and returned baseline questionnaires: patient education group (n=71); relaxation group (n=62); 120/133 participants were women. Average age was 48. 53 (SD 10.89) years. Follow-up ranged between 73 and 82% of questionnaires returned. At four months, there was a difference in average changes in total Fibromyalgia ImpactQuestionnaire scores between the two groups: patient education group -3.38 (SD 9.35); relaxation group 0.3 (SD 8.85); P=0.02. Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale scores were significantly higher in the patient education group: pain 0.59 (SD 1.45)compared to the relaxation group’s -0.12 (SD 1.22); P=0.003; other symptoms (patient education group 0.72 (SD 1.33); relaxation group 0.03 (SD 1.16); P=0.002). At eight months these differences were no longer apparent. Forty-seven per cent in the patient education group self-reported improvement compared with 13% in the relaxation group (=13.65; P=0.0001).

Conclusion: Short-term improvements resulted from the education -exercise programme but were not sustained. Appropriate selection may improve efficacy.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. Brosseau, G. A Wells, P. Tugwell, M. Egan, K. G Wilson, C.-J. Dubouloz, L. Casimiro, V. A Robinson, J. McGowan, A. Busch, et al. Ottawa Panel Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Strengthening Exercises in the Management of Fibromyalgia: Part 2 Physical Therapy, July 1, 2008; 88(7): 873 - 886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Ayan, V. Martin, B. Alonso-Cortes, M.J. Alvarez, M. Valencia, and M.J. Barrientos Relationship between aerobic fitness and quality of life in female fibromyalgia patients Clinical Rehabilitation, December 1, 2007; 21(12): 1109 - 1113. [Abstract] [PDF]