Date of Award
5-2020
Document Type
Project Paper
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Program Affiliation
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
First Advisor
Dr. Mary Rivard
Abstract
Background: Fibromyalgia has an estimated prevalence of 2% of the United States population, with a greater estimated prevalence among women (3.4%) than with men (0.5%). In addition to widespread pain, fibromyalgia symptoms include fatigue, headache, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, memory problems, and numbness/tingling sensations. If the condition remains untreated or is poorly managed, then fibromyalgia can present problems among individuals, families, and communities. The lack in fibromyalgia screening processes at a Midwest Pain Clinic presented opportunity for the project.
Objectives: The purpose of this clinical project was to increase fibromyalgia screening by using the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) in a Midwest Pain Clinic.
Methodology: A prospective, one-group pretest and posttest design was utilized for the project. All clinicians who were employed at Midwest Pain Clinic on a full-time and part-time status consented to participating in the project; the principle investigator was excluded from participation. Seven clinicians completed a de-identified pretest survey to evaluate the knowledge on fibromyalgia screening, and FiRST, which was followed by a one-hour face-to-face education session. Eight weeks after the education session, a de-identified posttest was distributed for completion. FiRST printouts were placed at each clinician desk and exam room workstations to aide in utilization.
Results: The stated objectives for the project were achieved. Data collected indicated that over 85% of clinicians increased knowledge of FiRST, were able to utilize the tool for screening, and weekly increases in frequency of screening using FiRST among clinicians were reported. The FiRST remained in use for the next two months, with plans to adopt FiRST as the standard fibromyalgia screening tool.
Recommended Citation
Ongaga, Justus, "Screening for Fibromyalgia in Patients with Chronic Widespread Pain" (2020). Nursing Capstones. 373.
https://commons.und.edu/nurs-capstones/373