Page 77 - JCTR-11-5

Journal of Clinical and
Translational Research Fibromyalgia: Examination across life domains

commenced only after participants signed the Free and were expressed as frequencies, percentages, means, and
Informed Consent Form, which was included in the study SDs. Normality tests were conducted to determine the
approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Western appropriateness of basic inferential statistics, revealing a
Paraná State University (CAAE: 73259023.6.0000.0107). non-normal distribution of the data. Consequently, non-
Participants were thoroughly informed about the study’s parametric techniques were employed and are detailed
objectives, potential risks, and benefits, as stipulated by in each respective table. Regarding the study’s statistical
current legislation. Each participant was also aware of power, the sample size calculation was performed using
the option to request individual feedback on their results. G*Power software (version 3.1.9). Inputting the smallest
Furthermore, it was explained that participants could, observed effect size along with the achieved sample size
at any time, withdraw from participation or request the yielded a statistical power of 99.36% at an alpha level (α)
removal of their information from the study. The sample of 0.05 (Figure 1).
was selected by convenience through contacts with
institutions serving the target population. Data were 3. Results and discussion
collected between 2023 and 2025. 3.1. Sample profile
Inclusion criteria required participants to report a Fibromyalgia is marked by significant features that affect
medical diagnosis of fibromyalgia, with the majority individuals, encompassing both physical limitations and
(78.8%) diagnosed by a rheumatologist. Exclusion psychosocial factors. Understanding the characteristics
criteria included being younger than 18 years and non- and epidemiological profile of individuals with
residence within the jurisdiction of the 8 Regional Health fibromyalgia can significantly facilitate clinical reasoning
th
Department of Paraná, Brazil. Moreover, participants who and decision-making among multidisciplinary teams.
were illiterate were excluded from the investigation, as the Thus, the current study reports that participants had an
study relied on self-reported measures. average age of 49.71 years (range = 26–69; SD = 9.50),
To achieve the objectives of this study, participants with a notable majority (96.47%) being female, and only
completed a series of instruments using a digital, 2.70% were older than 65 years. This demographic aligns
individual platform. For this specific investigation, data with prior research in other areas of Brazil, such as a study
were extracted from the “Sociodemographic, Health, and in the northern region that reported 97% of patients were
28
Occupational Forms” section. This questionnaire gathered female. Regarding chronic pain, participants reported, on
information such as age, sex, non-communicable chronic average, living with pain for 14.82 years (SD = 9.81).
diseases diagnosis and treatment, fibromyalgia diagnosis, The time since fibromyalgia diagnosis varied widely
and the duration of living with the condition. In addition, from 7 months to 40 years (SD = 9.35), with an average
data on profession and field of work, working hours, of 11.13 years. The prolonged period required to receive a
marital status, and income were collected. These data diagnosis is crucial, particularly concerning the associated
points were selected based on their relevance to previous economic burden of fibromyalgia. Studies indicate that
investigations with similar objectives. 31,32 To facilitate the average interval between initial symptom onset and
interpretation and comparison with international studies, accurate diagnosis typically ranges from 4 to 10 years.
participants’ responses to these measures were recorded A lengthy diagnostic process, complicated by the complex
on a 0–10 Likert scale, where higher scores indicated and subjective presentation of fibromyalgia symptoms,
higher agreement. Psychometric properties revealed that frequently increases the strain on healthcare resources. 33-35
participants’ understanding of the questions was deemed
excellent for both the “perceived impact of fibromyalgia Table 1 provides an overview of the frequencies
on different life domains” scale and the “satisfaction of and percentages for each category within the analyzed
individuals on different life domains before and after variables. A higher prevalence of fibromyalgia was
fibromyalgia diagnosis” scale (α = 0.90). observed in individuals who reported being married
or in a stable union (71.76%) and who possessed higher
2.3. Statistical analysis education levels, with 45.78% having completed higher

Responses were extracted into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets education. The proportion of individuals with other
and carefully checked for potential data entry errors. Jeffrey’s comorbidities was rather high, with the most common
Amazing Statistical Program (JASP) (JASP, version 0.19) being hypertension (19.72%), respiratory diseases (9.86%),
was utilized for all statistical analyses. For descriptive and obesity (9.86%).
purposes—the primary objective of this study, which These results, depicted in Table 1, show some differences
aimed to outline the epidemiological profile—variables when compared to previous research by Rezende et al.,
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Volume 11 Issue 5 (2025) 71 doi: 10.36922/JCTR025290042