OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether pretreatment self-efficacy and pre- to post-treatment changes in self-efficacy predict post-treatment tender point index, disease severity, pain, and physical activity.
METHODS: One hundred nine subjects with fibromyalgia were assessed before and after a 6-week training intervention. Measures included tender point index, physician ratings of disease severity, the visual analog scale for pain, the Physical Activities subscale of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, and the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.
RESULTS: Pretreatment self-efficacy significantly predicted post-treatment physical activity, with higher self-efficacy associated with better physical activity outcome. Changes in self-efficacy significantly predicted post-treatment tender point index, disease severity, and pain; improvements in self-efficacy were associated with better outcomes on each measure.
CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of self-efficacy are associated with better outcome, and may mediate the effectiveness of rehabilitation-based treatment programs for fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of biofeedback/relaxation, exercise, and a combined program for the treatment of fibromyalgia. METHODS: Subjects (n = 119) were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: 1) biofeedback/relaxation training, 2) exercise training, 3) a combination treatment, or 4) an educational/attention control program. RESULTS: All 3 treatment groups produced improvements in self-efficacy for function relative to the control condition. In addition, all treatment groups were significantly different from the control group on tender point index scores, reflecting a modest deterioration by the attention control group rather than improvements by the treatment groups. The exercise and combination groups also resulted in modest improvements on a physical activity measure. The combination group best maintained benefits across the 2-year period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that these 3 treatment interventions result in improved self-efficacy for physical function which was best maintained by the combination group.
This study examined whether pretreatment self-efficacy and pre- to post-treatment changes in self-efficacy predict post-treatment tender point index, disease severity, pain, and physical activity.
METHODS:
One hundred nine subjects with fibromyalgia were assessed before and after a 6-week training intervention. Measures included tender point index, physician ratings of disease severity, the visual analog scale for pain, the Physical Activities subscale of the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, and the Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.
RESULTS:
Pretreatment self-efficacy significantly predicted post-treatment physical activity, with higher self-efficacy associated with better physical activity outcome. Changes in self-efficacy significantly predicted post-treatment tender point index, disease severity, and pain; improvements in self-efficacy were associated with better outcomes on each measure.
CONCLUSIONS:
Higher levels of self-efficacy are associated with better outcome, and may mediate the effectiveness of rehabilitation-based treatment programs for fibromyalgia.
