Assessing the benefits on quality of life of a multicomponent intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome in primary care: patients' and health professionals' appraisals: a qualitative study protocol

Victoria Mailen Arfuch, Rosa Caballol Angelats, Carina Aguilar Martín, Noèlia Carrasco-Querol, Maria Cinta Sancho Sol, Gemma González Serra, Immaculada Fusté Anguera, Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves, Anna Berenguera, Victoria Mailen Arfuch, Rosa Caballol Angelats, Carina Aguilar Martín, Noèlia Carrasco-Querol, Maria Cinta Sancho Sol, Gemma González Serra, Immaculada Fusté Anguera, Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves, Anna Berenguera

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a complex condition still scarcely understood and with ambiguity when prescribing treatment. Both patients and healthcare providers can supply valuable information for the development of new treatment strategies. The qualitative narrative analysis of participant's accounts is potentially helpful to reveal new insights about their opinions, needs, and experiences and, consequently, to model healthcare interventions accurately. International treatment guidelines suggest a promising future for multicomponent intervention (MI) approaches for FMS. This study aims to assess the benefits of a MI for patients with FMS in the context of primary care (PC) in Terres de L'Ebre, Catalonia (Spain). Furthermore, it is intended to detect the overall perception of effectiveness and to understand patients' lived experience and its impact on the quality of life.

Method and analysis: Qualitative research from a socioconstructivism paradigm perspective and a Hermeneutic Phenomenological method. For data collection, four focus group discussions (FGDs) of 8-12 people (2 FGDs of patients and 2 of professionals) and 10-12 key informant interviews with the participants in the MI group will be carried out. All the information will be recorded and verbatim transcribed to perform an interpretive thematic analysis.

Ethics and dissemination: This study protocol has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee from the IDIAPJGol Institute, on 25 April 2018 (code P18/068), according to the Declaration of Helsinki/Tokyo. All participants will receive oral/written information about the study, and they will be required to sign an informed consent sheet. Data anonymity will be guaranteed. Dissemination will be carried out through publications in scientific journals, presentations in academic meetings, workshops and through the local and national media.

Trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04049006; Pre-results.

Keywords: primary care; public health; qualitative research; rheumatology.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the qualitative study. FGD, focus group discussions; KII, key informant interview; MI, multicomponent intervention; PhCs, phone calls.

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