Online self-management in fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia has a high clinical burden, as reflected by considerable pain, decreased strength and mobility, physical disability, and an often decreased health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). Self-management factors related to physical and psychosocial adjustment, such as patients’ perceptions about their disease and coping, play an important role in HR-QoL and functional ability in patients with chronic diseases, such as fibromyalgia. Improving capacities of patients in managing a chronic condition is increasingly recognized as important in the treatment of (somatic) conditions and becomes more common in clinical practice and research. In this study, the effect of an online self-management intervention focusing on coping skills related to chronic pain in comparison to a waitlist control condition is studied.

To study the effectiveness of the online self-management intervention in patients with fibromyalgia.

Primary and secondary endpoints will be measured at baseline, after 3 months, 4,5 months and 6 months.

The intervention is based on cognitive-behavioral methods. It starts off with a face-to-face introduction consultation in which personal goals for the intervention are set. Subsequently, the tailored self-management intervention will be offered via an online program. The intervention consists of six modules containing pain education, practical assignments, relaxation training, and registrations. The first and last modules are an introductory and closure module; in between are four modules aimed at learning how to cope with the consequences of a chronic condition in daily life. The modules focus on (1) activity, (2) mood, (3) thoughts, and (4) the social environment. At least once a week, participants receive feedback on the assignments and motivational support from a psychologist, by means of text messages in a secured mail box in the online program. After finishing the online program, patients will be approached by their treating psychologist for two booster sessions via telephone. In these booster sessions it will be evaluated how the patient further attained his/her pre-set goals for the intervention. Strategies to strenghten the achieved results will be discussed. The booster sessions will take place 1 month and 2,5 months after finishing the online program.