The Occupational Profile of Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

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Author´s name

Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres, M., Huertas-Hoyas, E., Sánchez-Camarero, C., Pérez-Corrales, J., y Fernández de-las-Peñas, C.

Article title in Spanish

The Occupational Profile of Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Article title in English

Name of journal

Occupational Therapy International

Year of publication

2016

Volume of the journal

23(2)

Pages of the journal

132-142

Keywords

fibromyalgia, functional profile, occupational therapy, self-perception, y activities of daily living

DOI

10.1002/oti.1418

Summary in Spanish

The aims of this study were to assess the functional level of women with fibromyalgia; to investigate the differences in the occupational activities between women with fibromyalgia and healthy women; and to analyse the perceived importance of occupational performance during self-care, productivity and leisure activities. A cross-sectional case control study was performed. Twenty women with fibromyalgia and 20 healthy women completed the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the SF-36 health survey. The Chi-square test (χ2), the Student’s t test and the Spearman’s test were used on the data. The FIM revealed significant differences regarding several activities: personal hygiene, bathing and memory (p<0.01). The COPM scores did not reveal significant differences between groups (p>0.10). Women with fibromyalgia had higher disability and reduced quality of life and required greater assistance to perform specific activities of daily living, i.e. hygiene, than healthy women. This highlights the specific occupational therapy needs these women have for performing many basic activities and for improving their quality of life. Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the exclusion of male participants and the possible influence of the women’s psychological status on the assessments performed. Findings should be generalized with caution.

Summary in English

The aims of this study were to assess the functional level of women with fibromyalgia; to investigate the differences in the occupational activities between women with fibromyalgia and healthy women; and to analyse the perceived importance of occupational performance during self-care, productivity and leisure activities. A cross-sectional case control study was performed. Twenty women with fibromyalgia and 20 healthy women completed the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), a Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and the SF-36 health survey. The Chi-square test (χ2), the Student’s t test and the Spearman’s test were used on the data. The FIM revealed significant differences regarding several activities: personal hygiene, bathing and memory (p<0.01). The COPM scores did not reveal significant differences between groups (p>0.10). Women with fibromyalgia had higher disability and reduced quality of life and required greater assistance to perform specific activities of daily living, i.e. hygiene, than healthy women. This highlights the specific occupational therapy needs these women have for performing many basic activities and for improving their quality of life. Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the exclusion of male participants and the possible influence of the women’s psychological status on the assessments performed. Findings should be generalized with caution.

Bibliographic reference

Marta Pérez-de-Heredia-Torres, Elisabet Huertas Hoyas, Carlos Sánchez-Camarero, Jorge Pérez-Corrales, César Fernández de-las-Peñas. The Occupational Profile of Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Occup Ther Int. 2016 Jun;23(2):132-42. doi: 10.1002/oti.1418