Solicitous and invalidating responses are associated with health care visits in fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objectives: Health care use in fibromyalgia is substantial. Besides the severity of the disease and psychological factors, previous research suggests that the social environment can influence patients’ health care use. This study describes health care use in patients with fibromyalgia and investigates the relation of social responses of the partner and family with health care use. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 280 patients with fibromyalgia were analysed. Socio-demographic variables, health status variables, health care use, partner’s solicitous and punishing responses, and invalidation (i.e., discounting and lack of understanding) by family were assessed. Heath care use was defined as number of visits to physicians and health professionals. Associations of independent variables with health care use were examined using univariate and hierarchical regression analyses. Results: In the preceding 6 months, 99% of the patients visited at least one physician and 66% visited at least one health professional. Mean (SD) total health care visits and the number of different disciplines consulted were 18.5 (17.7) and 3.6 (1.7), respectively. Being female, paid employment, having a co-morbid condition, a higher severity of fibromyalgia, more partner’s solicitous responses, and more invalidating responses by family were univariately associated with visits to a physician. Having a comorbid condition, severity of fibromyalgia, and invalidation by family were uniquely associated with visits to a physician. No other associations were found. Conclusions: Therapeutic attention to patients’ close social environment might be a useful approach to improve health-related outcomes, including health care use in patients with fibromyalgia.