• Erica Briones-Vozmediano, Carmen Vives-Cases, Elena Ronda-Pérez, and Diana Gil-González.
• Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine & Public Health and History of Science, Alicante, Spain. erica.briones@ua.es
• Pain Res Manag. 2013 Jan 1; 18 (1): 19-24.

BackgroundManaging fibromyalgia is a challenge for both health care systems and the professionals caring for these patients, due, in part, to the fact that the etiology of this disease is unknown, its symptoms are not specific and there is no standardized treatment.ObjectiveThe present study examines three aspects of fibromyalgia management, namely diagnostic approach, therapeutic management and the health professional-patient relationship, to explore specific areas of the health care process that professionals and patients may consider unsatisfactory.MethodsA qualitative study involving semistructured interviews with 12 fibromyalgia patients and nine health professionals was performed.ResultsThe most commonly recurring theme was the dissatisfaction of both patients and professionals with the management process as a whole. Both groups expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in reaching a diagnosis and obtaining effective treatment. Patients reported the need for greater moral support from professionals, whereas the latter often felt frustrated and of little help to patients. Patients and professionals agreed on one point: the uncertainty surrounding the management of fibromyalgia and, especially, its etiology.ConclusionThe present study contributes to a better understanding regarding why current management of fibromyalgia is neither effective nor satisfactory. It also provides insight into how health professionals can support fibromyalgia patients to achieve beneficial results. Health care services should offer greater support for these patients in the form of specific resources such as fibromyalgia clinics and health professionals with increased awareness of the disease.

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