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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
Published on: January 5, 2024
Predictors of adherence to treatment in women with fibromyalgia
Patricia L Dobkin1, Aurelio Sita, Maida J Sewitch
1Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. patricia.dobkin@mcgill.ca
Objectives:
The goal of this study was to identify predictors of general and medication adherence in women with fibromyalgia (FM).
Methods:
Participants were 142 women recruited from tertiary care hospitals or the community and 10 rheumatologists. Participants' demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics, as well as patient-physician discordance, were assessed at the index visit. Adherence was assessed 6 months later. Multivariable generalized estimating equations were used to identify predictors of general adherence and adherence to medication.
Results:
The average age of participants was 50.9 years (SD=10.2) and the median duration of FM was 32 months. Participants reported extensive use of health services and medications. The mean score for general adherence was 61.0 (SD=22.4; range 0-100) and 52.9% of the cohort reported at least one form of behavior reflecting nonadherence to medications. More general adherence was significantly predicted by lower patient-physician discordance on patient well-being and lower patient psychological distress. Medication adherence was significantly predicted by higher affective pain and lower patient psychological distress.
Conclusions:
Adherence is influenced by both clinical (patient-physician discordance and pain) and psychological (distress) factors in women with FM. Improvements in these domains may improve adherence in FM.