Abstract

MAEDA, Ana Maria Canzonieri; POLLAK, Daniel Feldman  and  MARTINS, Maria Anita Viviani. The understanding of rheumatology residents concerning care for fibromyalgia patients. Rev. Bras. Educ. Med. [online]. 2009, vol.33, n.03, pp.393-404. ISSN 1981-5271.

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the understanding of rheumatology residents in caring for fibromyalgia patients. The syndrome is difficult to diagnose, and pain is the most important symptom. Objectives: Understand how residents understand the care, and discover what this care leads to. Methods: Qualitative study based on hermeneutic phenomenology, with taped individual interviews answering the key question: “What does it mean to you to treat fibromyalgia patients?” The study analyzed the meanings provided by the residents. The research was performed in three public university hospitals, with second-year medical residents. Results: Care for fibromyalgia patients proved to be a source of frustration, bringing a feeling of powerlessness and indignation; patients suffer from prejudice due to idiosyncrasies, social components, and non-adherence to treatment; the physician needs to be emotionally prepared to provide care - requirements include knowing how to listen and understand the patient-illness relationship; the diagnosis is marked by lack of laboratory confirmation and subjectivity in the work-up; the physician needs support from psychology, and the treatment requires a multidisciplinary team. Conclusion: Care is frustrating and generates a feeling of powerlessness. It requires greater psychological preparation during medical training and a more integrated approach between medicine, psychology, and physical therapy.

Keywords : Fibromyalgia; Qualitative Research; Schools,; Medical.

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