Table 1 Structure of the advanced self-management patient education program for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Session | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|
0 | Introduction, questions and expectations (optional) | Psychologist |
1 | The fibromyalgia syndrome – What does that mean? (symptoms, diagnosis, course, causes and influencing factors, frequency, communication with health professionals) | Physician |
2 | How is the fibromyalgia syndrome treated? (treatment options, medication, physical therapy, psychotherapy, risks and benefits of alternative therapies) | Physician |
3 | Dealing with pain (acute vs. chronic pain, development and sustainment of pain, consequences, relationships to depression and anxiety, coping with pain) | Psychologist |
4 | Everything hurts! – Thus, why moving? (possibilities of physical activity, consequences, physical exercises, important principals of training, action and coping planning) | Physiotherapist |
5 | Everything grows over my head! – Ways out of stress (types of stressors, development of stress, stress reaction and consequences, relationship to pain, coping with stress, exercises) | Psychologist |
6 | Managing daily life (explaining the condition to others, goals for daily life, checking the action plans, improving sleep quality, personal conclusion) | Psychologist |