Premium
How can group‐based multidisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with fibromyalgia influence patients' self‐efficacy and ability to cope with their illness: a grounded theory approach
Author(s) -
Rasmussen Marianne Uggen,
Amris Kirstine,
RydahlHansen Susan
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/jocn.13521
Subject(s) - rehabilitation , multidisciplinary approach , coping (psychology) , grounded theory , focus group , fibromyalgia , psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , qualitative research , physical therapy , social science , marketing , sociology , business
Aims and objectives To describe how group‐based multidisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with fibromyalgia can influence patients' self‐efficacy and ability to cope with their illness. Background Multidisciplinary rehabilitation is recommended in the management of fibromyalgia. Self‐efficacy is said to influence and predict adaptive coping behaviours and functioning. However, knowledge is lacking on how rehabilitation programmes may influence self‐efficacy and ability to cope, from the patients' perspective. Design Grounded theory study of semi‐structured focus group interviews. Methods Participants ( n = 17) were included in four focus groups that had completed a two‐week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme together. Interviews were conducted four weeks after each group had completed the programme. The analysis was conducted constant comparatively applying open, axial and selective coding. Results Categories (in italics) were derived from data in which the explanatory core category was identified: Learning to accept and live with pain as a life condition, and linked to three categories mutually influencing each other : Increased self‐acceptance of living with the illness, experiencing acceptance from others and developing new coping strategies . Thus, patients benefitted from multidisciplinary rehabilitation with stronger self‐efficacy and expectations to their future coping. However, limitations in the programme were identified, as the programme was short and intensive with no subsequent follow‐up, and social welfare was not sufficiently addressed. Participants also found it difficult to maintain knowledge and were lacking individual sessions with the psychologist and had waited long to receive rehabilitation. Conclusion Multidisciplinary rehabilitation may advantageously be offered to patients with fibromyalgia. However, earlier action with longer programmes, in which patients' social situation is addressed, comprising individual sessions with the psychologist, with multiple repetitions of the content and follow‐up sessions, may further enhance the patients' self‐efficacy and coping with their illness.