Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic illness. The illness is characterized by widespread pain with trigger point tenderness, fatigue, and non-restorative sleep disturbances (Wassem, Beckham, and Dudley, 2001, 33). Wassem et al offer insight for developing nursing intervention for those with orthopedic problems. Wassem et al conducted a study to determine if the intervention schedule is useful in helping nurses expand their interventions with FM patients. The authors define their purpose as follows, “This was a test to detect whether a 4-week cognitive behavioral nursing program was effective in increasing adjustment to FM and if the treatment effect would last over time” (Wassem et al., 20001, 33).
The study design was a control and treatment group experimental longitudinal study with outcome measures obtained at pretest and every 3 months for 1 year (Wassem et al., 2001). The sample population consisted of 71 patients; 88% were female and both male and female groups had a mean age range of 51 years (Wassem et al., 2001, 36). The mean numbers of years with FM among the sample was 8, with a degree of disability mean of 5 (Wassem et al., 2001, 36). Questionnaires used four instruments that were fashioned to measure adjustment, self-efficacy, symptom severity, and demographic/FM characteristics. The Self-efficacy for Adjustment Behaviors Scale (SEAB) was used. In order to test the validity of the construct, SEAB scores were correlated with perceive self-report adjustment items that were significant at moderate levels. Disability was measured via a Disability Status Scale, adjustment scores were obtained from self-report scales of symptom management from 0-10. The Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) was use to analyze data and test hypotheses. The following three hypotheses were tested:
The treatment group would have improved adjustment scores at post-test measures compared to the control group,
Control sub...