A web-based educational therapy intervention associated with physical exercise to promote health in fibromyalgia in Brazil: the Amigos De Fibro (Fibro Friends) study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Health education is one of the main items to enable health promotion to patients with fibromyalgia. The objective of the study "Amigos de Fibro (Fibro Friends)" is to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention associated with physical exercise based on the web in promoting health and quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia in Brazil. METHODS: A study with a randomized controlled trial approach will be carried out. The sample will consist of 24 participants, divided into two groups, with 12 individuals each. The experimental group will participate in meetings with lectures, debates, conversation rounds and exercises by a multidisciplinary team. Physical exercises will also be performed in an online environment. On the other hand, the control group will receive an e-book of education and self-care. Primary outcomes will be quality of life. The secondary outcomes will be sociodemographic and health profile, pain intensity, sleep quality, self-care agency, usage and costs of health and social care services, viability of the program and program participation. In addition, a qualitative evaluation process will be carried out with the participants. After the intervention, the data of both groups will be collected again, as well as after 3, 6, and 12 months to verify the effect and the maintenance of the intervention. DISCUSSION: The results will provide data for studies to consider the use of this tool in the future by professionals working in the field of rheumatology. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-3rh759 ( https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=RBR-3rh759 ). Date of registration: 07/02/2020].

Effectiveness of interdisciplinary health education programs for individuals with fibromyalgia: A systematic review.

Fibromyalgia has been increasing worldwide and is considered a public health problem. Nonpharmacological treatment through exercise and education is recommended for fibromyalgia management. In this sense, there is a need for interdisciplinary programs to promote health and improve symptoms in fibromyalgia. The purpose of this study was to verify the effectiveness of interdisciplinary health education programs for individuals with fibromyalgia. This is a systematic review that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses recommendations and was registered at Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD4201913228). A search was conducted in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online, Lilacs, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Knowledge ISI, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus. The descriptors used were "Fibromyalgia" and "Health Education." Clinical trials published between 1990 and 2019 were selected. The Jadad Quality Scale and the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool were used to evaluate the risk of bias and the methodological quality of the clinical trials. The search found 2887 articles, and only two studies were included in the analysis. Both studies conducted the interventions through lectures and group activities. In particular, the topics most frequently approached at the interdisciplinary health education programs were general information about fibromyalgia, body practices, physical activities, and pharmacological approaches. An interdisciplinary health education program can improve pain and quality of life in people with fibromyalgia; however, evidence shows low methodological quality. This systematic review indicates that studies are of low quality, interfering with the effectiveness of interdisciplinary health education programs.