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To qualitatively evaluate the perceived benefits of participation in a support group (SG) for mothers of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in Southern Colombia. The "Women of Zika" SG was running in Sourthern Colombia from August 2018 to December 2019. The evaluation was carried out between October and December 2019, 21 women participated and the information was collected in three group discussions and non-participant observation. A thematic content analysis of the data was carried out with the support of Atlas ti-v8. Women's discourses assessing the perceived benefits of participating in the SG were organized under three categories according to the three dimensions of social support: "Teaching and learning from each other: the SG as a source of information support," "Coping with adversity: the SG as a source of emotional support" and "Creating your own identity: the SG as a source of relational support." The SG has been an important source of social support for women with children with CZS and it meant had a shared space where they developed individual and collective agency capacities. SGs can be a useful strategy for social and therapeutic support for families with children with multiple disabilities, such as CZS. Caring after children with CZS has negative implications on the mental health and quality of life of these women. Specific interventions need to be developed to improve the quality of life of mothers of children with CZS. Support groups are an effective strategy for providing social support to women with children with different disabilities such as CZS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore and compare the perceptions of patients and primary healthcare professionals regarding the management of chronic low back pain. Qualitative study using 26 semi-structured individual interviews, and one discussion group, carried out in primary care in Lleida, Spain. Patients and primary healthcare professionals both had assumptions pertaining to: (1) the diagnosis and meaning of chronic low back pain, (2) expectations regarding treatment for pain reduction, and (3) communication between primary healthcare professionals and patients with chronic low back pain. Results suggest a mutual dissatisfaction with the diagnosis of chronic low back pain and a lack of understanding between primary healthcare professionals and patients. Some contradictions between them were also noted: the patients wanted quick solutions to reduce their pain, but the primary healthcare professionals required an accurate etiology to prescribe treatment, and the patients did not always follow the primary healthcare professionals' recommendations. Diagnosing and treating chronic low back pain is compromised due to differing expectations and the communication barriers that exist between healthcare professionals and their patients. Primary healthcare professionals should be aware of the power of their explanations and recommendations to patients. Primary healthcare professionals should negotiate treatments with patients and adapt them to their individual needs, according to a Patient-Centered approach and the biopsychosocial model of pain. Primary healthcare professionals should explain to patients the underlying mechanisms and multifactorial nature of chronic low back pain. Primary healthcare professional-patient communication needs to be improved to help patients to better understand their chronic condition. The healthcare professionals in Spain should be more trained into the (bio)psychosocial model of long-term pain, stop searching for non-evident pathologies and change their biomedical beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a condition principally suffered by women. As with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is usually included among the so called "contested illnesses", defined as illnesses whose cause, diagnosis, prevalence and even existence are subject to controversy. This article seeks to explore how women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity experience this contested illness, through their own descriptions of diagnostic processes, search for treatment and encounters with different health professionals. We aim to observe these experiences in detail and to identify aspects that could improve care for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferers. Qualitative design. We performed personal in-depth interviews, which were recorded and transcribed to conduct a qualitative content analysis supported by Atlas.ti-7. 22 women diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Spain. Two main categories were identified in the interviews: (1) unavoidable barriers: patients' exposure to chemicals and the absence of treatment, and (2) Skepticism on the part of care providers and lack of recognition in the process of diagnosis. Training and above all awareness raising strategies are needed to address health professionals' prejudices regarding the existence of contested illnesses such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. These prejudices hinder diagnosis and medical follow-up, and add negative emotions to the physical limitations already suffered by patients. It is important to promote a compassionate and empathetic attitude among health providers, in order to avoid rejection and delegitimization of the experiences of women with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity protocols should be developed and implemented to give skills to health professionals to assist patients with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. These protocols should include avoidance of exposure to chemicals present in healthcare facilities. Training programs for health providers should include not only knowledge, but awareness raising about the characteristics and severity of contested illnesses such as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. Health providers should avoid stigmatizing patients by psychologizing their symptoms and be aware of the existence of stereotypes regarding women suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is twofold: (1) to explore health service providers’ perceptions regarding fibromyalgia patients in Spain and (2) to analyze possible consequences of these perceptions in terms of how health service providers construct the disease and treat their patients. Design: Qualitative study. Subjects/Patients: Twelve health service providers (eight men, four women) involved in the care of fibromyalgia patients. Providers were from different disciplines and included general practitioners, rheumatologists, occupational doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, physiotherapists and behavioral specialists from Spain. Method: We performed individual semistructured interviews, which were recorded and transcribed to conduct a qualitative content analysis supported by Atlas.ti-7. Results: We identified three categories from the interviews: (1) the fibromyalgia patient prototype: the complaining woman, (2) fibromyalgia is considered a women’s health issue, but male patients are a privileged minority, and (3) health professionals’ attitudes toward fibromyalgia patients: are they really suffering or pretending? Conclusion: The uncertainty surrounding fibromyalgia together with the fact that those affected are primarily women, seem to influence professional practice in terms of lack of recognition of Fibromyalgia as a severe disease. Increased training of all health professionals is essential to improving the support and attention given to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Implications for rehabilitation:   Fibromyalgia   • In order to improve fibromyalgia patients´ attention, health providers should learn how to assist patients without prejudices.   • Training programs for health providers should include sensitization about the severity of fibromyalgia.   • Health providers should be aware of the existence of stereotypes about women suffering from fibromyalgia.   • Fibromyalgia protocols should give skills to health providers to avoid offering a gender-biased attention to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose Materials and Methods Results Conclusions This qualitative evidence synthesis aimed to identify and integrate findings where adults with fibromyalgia discussed how they managed their pain, and their perceptions of prescribed treatments from healthcare professionals.A comprehensive search strategy was implemented in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cinahl Plus databases. The GRADE-CERQual framework was used to evaluate the findings confidence. The findings were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach.A total of 35 studies (N = 728) were included. The confidence in the findings ranged from high to low confidence. Patients with fibromyalgia often do not benefit from seeking medical attention due to provider stigma, and have varying views on medication effectiveness commonly reporting feeling like “walking chemists.” They find mixed effects from exercise, and consider psychological support essential, although the benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy were controversial. Combining cognitive-behavioral therapy with physical exercise appears more effective, while natural and complementary therapies have short-term benefits and high costs.Pain management is a source for frustration and an unmet need for patients with fibromyalgia. The current findings provide crucial insight for providers and researchers; and support the need for fibromyalgia phenotyping and precision medicine approaches to pain management. Implications for Rehabilitation Chronic widespread pain is the defining feature of fibromyalgia, yet pain reduction is often an unmet need for these individuals. The lack of effective treatments resulting in long-term relief proves frustrating for patients and healthcare providers. Rehabilitation professional should consider the unique insight into this complex, heterogeneous condition that this qualitative synthesis provides to better understand their patient’s perspective on pain management. Given the differing perspectives on pain treatment approaches individuals with fibromyalgia report, providers should discuss with each patient their current strategies and take a patient-centered, individualized approach to form an effective treatment plan. Chronic widespread pain is the defining feature of fibromyalgia, yet pain reduction is often an unmet need for these individuals.The lack of effective treatments resulting in long-term relief proves frustrating for patients and healthcare providers.Rehabilitation professional should consider the unique insight into this complex, heterogeneous condition that this qualitative synthesis provides to better understand their patient’s perspective on pain management.Given the differing perspectives on pain treatment approaches individuals with fibromyalgia report, providers should discuss with each patient their current strategies and take a patient-centered, individualized approach to form an effective treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]