Date sent:      	Tue, 28 May 2002 

Test of a nursing intervention to promote adjustment to fibromyalgia.

Orthop Nurs 2001 May-Jun;20(3):33-45

Wassem R, Beckham N, Dudley W.

University of Utah, College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, USA.

PURPOSE: This was a test to detect whether a 4-week cognitive behavioral
nursing program was effective in increasing adjustment to fibromyalgia (FM)
and if the treatment effect would last over time.

DESIGN: This was a control and treatment group experimental longitudinal
study with outcome measures obtained at pretest and every 3 months for 1
year.

SAMPLE: A sample of 71 subjects continued their participation throughout the
first year of the study.

FINDINGS: Treatment subjects had improved posttreatment adjustment and
symptom severity compared to control subjects. When subjects with high
pretest psychosocial distress (n = 5) were removed from the analysis, these
findings were statistically significant.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The article can provide direction for
developing new comprehensive nursing intervention for patients seen with
orthopaedic problems. The intervention schedule may help nurses expand their
use of interventions for FM patients. Orthopaedic nurses are especially
suited for this challenge.

PMID: 12025633