[Prejudices, attitudes, and stereotypes of healthcare professionals towards fibromyalgia: A systematic review].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prejudices, attitudes and stereotypes that health professionals, mainly in general medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, rheumatology, mental health, nursing and physiotherapy, have towards fibromyalgia.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO.

STUDY SELECTION: The search was carried out on 17 June 2024. Original articles and case reports, whose subject matter was related to the main purpose of this work, and published in the last ten years, were included.

DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction was performed by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed using the critical appraisal tools for non-randomized studies of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI).

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies were included. The delay in diagnosis, the lack of training in the management of this condition, and the subjectivity of its symptoms make fibromyalgia a significant challenge for healthcare professionals. A stereotypical patient profile is described, which contributes to fibromyalgia being perceived as a low-prestige disease, lacking an organic basis that legitimizes it.

CONCLUSIONS

Health professionals highlight the lack of adequate training to diagnose and treat fibromyalgia. People suffering from this disease are often seen as difficult patients, whose credibility is constantly questioned and stigmatised. This study identifies the factors that cause discordance between professionals and patients, in order to optimise clinical practice.