[Patient satisfaction in the rehabilitation of fibromyalgia inpatients]

The treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome is still unsatisfactory, especially because it is in most cases impossible to achieve complete relief from pain. With regard to this issue, we investigated the satisfaction of in-patients for fibromyalgia with their therapeutic regimen. The survey comprised 96 patients (91 females, 5 males) who had participated in an interdisciplinary group treatment program of in-patient. We used our own custom-designed scoring system to assess the patients' satisfaction. The patients were asked to rate the therapeutic measures as well as the groups of people involved in the treatment on a scale from 1 to 10 (very bad to very good). The results revealed that patients were highly satisfied with the therapeutic measures that had been taken. Every mean score was greater than seven. Psychological care, coaching patients to cope better with their illness, and instruction in relaxation techniques received especially high scores. An analysis of the factors yielded four factors that contribute to patient satisfaction: 1) general medical regimen, 2) special massage methods, 3) physician and psychologist, 4) relaxation techniques. An interdisciplinary approach in treating fibromyalgia has proved useful.