Has anything changed for Fibromyalgia? Focus groups with patients on their lived experiences in England.

ABSTRACT:

Background

While awareness of Fibromyalgia (FM) has evolved across healthcare and social settings, individuals with FM continue reporting poor understanding of their condition in the everyday.

Objective

To explore the lived experiences and subjective illness narratives of individuals with FM, focusing on personal understandings of FM, outlook on healthcare, and perceived attitudes of surrounding peers.

Methods

We carried out four online focus groups with individuals diagnosed with FM. Participants were recruited from a pool of patients in a pain management centre in the Southwest of England, UK, that previously took part in a FM management course, 'Body Reprogramming Course' (BRC). Discussion topics included the personal understanding of FM (illness identity, timeline

SUBMITTER: Locher C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12904402 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature