SynthesisJournal of advanced nursing2025
The Experience of Stigma in People Affected by Fibromyalgia: A Metasynthesis.
Synthesis in Journal of advanced nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Perception and lived experience of movement in patients with fibromyalgia: a qualitative systematic review with meta-synthesis and meta-summary.Clinical rheumatology · 2026Pooled it
- Drug treatments for fibromyalgia: systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials.BMJ medicine · 2026Pooled it
- 'So it's real': Fibromyalgia, diagnostic injustice, and the case for a shared system response.Clinical medicine (London, England) · 2026Article
- Perceptions of Fibromyalgia Across Career Stages: Survey Results From Internal Medicine Physicians and Medical Students.Musculoskeletal care · 2026Article
- Latent profile analysis of stigma and medical coping among patients with vaginitis: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2026Article
- Understanding occupational self-efficacy for health and meaningfulness at work: a qualitative study among home care workers with threatened work ability.BMC nursing · 2026Article
- Self-Reported Symptom Burden and Clinical Characteristics in Fibromyalgia: Evidence from a Large Online Survey in Italy.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
- Evaluation of an Invisible Illness Communication Strategy Curriculum Among Internal Medicine Interns.Cureus · 2026Article
- Fibromyalgia in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases: a mixed-methods study of patient and clinician perspectives.Rheumatology international · 2026Article
- Conceptualisation of Empathy in Interactions Between Healthcare Professionals and People With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Mixed-Methods Study.Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings · 2026Article
- Understanding essential aspects of fibromyalgia care through a qualitative study of patient feedback.PEC innovation · 2026Article
- Perspectives of sedentary behaviour, physical activity and health messaging among people with fibromyalgia: a qualitative study.Rheumatology advances in practice · 2026Article
- Information exchange or discussion? A qualitative study on cross-sectoral collaboration between social security service and healthcare service for patients with chronic fatigue.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Invisible Pain, Visible Inequalities: Gender, Social Agency, and the Health of Women with Fibromyalgia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Patient Version of Guideline for Fibromyalgia (2025 Edition).Journal of evidence-based medicine · 2025Article
- Fibromyalgia: do I tackle you with complementary medicines?Pain reports · 2025Review
- Somatization, psychological distress, and quality of life across fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and their comorbid phenotype: a cross-sectional clinical comparison.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Fibromyalgia, gender, and employment: unveiling an overlooked reality in occupational health in Chile.Revista brasileira de medicina do trabalho : publicacao oficial da Associacao Nacional de Medicina do Trabalho-ANAMTArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
aimTo review the qualitative literature regarding how people with fibromyalgia experience and are impacted by stigma.
designA systematic review and metasynthesis of qualitative studies was conducted following the Thomas and Harden method.
methodsThe electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Embase and Scopus were queried (September 2023). No publication year limit was set. Twelve studies were included in the final analysis. The findings were reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) statement.
findingsThree main themes with 11 sub-themes were identified: manifestations and roots of stigma, avoidance and coping strategies, and consequences of stigma. Stigma arises from disbelief due to the invisibility of symptoms, protracted time to diagnosis and gender stereotyping, especially against women. Various strategies to avoid or cope with prejudice may involve social isolation, hiding the disease, controlling information, getting closer to or further away from other patients, acknowledging and understanding the disease. Stigmatisation can diminish a person's integrity and dignity, undermine trust in health care professionals and worsen suffering.
conclusionThe metasynthesis findings align with previous research highlighting the pervasive stigma associated with chronic pain conditions. Greater awareness of the impact of disease-related stigma on individuals with fibromyalgia is crucial, not only among health care professionals but also within broader societal and institutional contexts. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: Understanding the stigma experienced by individuals with fibromyalgia can guide health care professionals in adopting more empathtic approaches, potentially improving the diagnostic process and the overall management of the condition. IMPACT: This study highlights the profound impact of stigma on individuals with fibromyalgia, emphasising the need for greater awareness and targeted interventions to address stigma in clinical practice and societal contexts. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.
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Registered trials
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