RESEARCH - An Internet survey of 2596 people with fibromyalgia

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BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2007; 8: 27.

Published online 2007 March 9. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-8-27.

Copyright © 2007 et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

An internet survey of 2,596 people with fibromyalgia

M ,1 Jessie ,2 Dennis C Turk,3 I Jon ,4 and

Lynne Matallana5

1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

2California State University, Fullerton, USA

3University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

4The University of Texas Health Science Center at San , TX, USA

5National Fibromyalgia Association, Orange, CA, USA

Background

This study explored the feasibility of using an Internet survey of

people with fibromyalgia (FM), with a view to providing information on

demographics, sources of information, symptoms, functionality,

perceived aggravating factors, perceived triggering events, health

care utilization, management strategies, and medication use.

Methods

A survey questionnaire was developed by the National Fibromyalgia

Association (NFA) in conjunction with a task force of " experts in the

field " . The questionnaire underwent several rounds of testing to

improve its face validity, content validity, clarity and readability

before it was mounted on the internet. The questionnaire consisted of

121 items and is available online at the website of the National

Fibromyalgia Association.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 2,569 people. Most were from the

United States, with at least one respondent from each of the 50

states. Respondents were predominantly middle-aged Caucasian females,

most of whom had FM symptoms for ™ 4 years. The most common problems

were morning stiffness, fatigue, nonrestorative sleep, pain,

concentration, and memory. Aggravating factors included: emotional

distress, weather changes, insomnia, and strenuous activity.

Respondents rated the most effective management modalities as rest,

heat, pain medications, antidepressants, and hypnotics. The most

commonly used medications were: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen,

cyclobenzaprine, amitriptyline, and aspirin. The medications perceived

to be the most effective were: hydrocodone preparations, aprazolam,

oxycodone preparations, zolpidem, cyclobenzaprine, and clonazepam.

Conclusion

This survey provides a snap-shot of FM at the end of 2005, as reported

by a self-selected population of people. This descriptive data has a

heuristic function, in that it identifies several issues for further

research, such as the prescribing habits of FM health care providers,

the role of emotional precipitants, the impact of obesity, the

significance of low back pain and the nature of FM related stiffness.

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