What do fibromyalgia women believe about walking behaviour? Evidence based tools for intervention

Background: Beliefs constitute accessible information that is relevant to the behaviour on which we will be targeted to produce behavioural change. Walking is a moderate-intensity exercise with demonstrated positive health outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia. Our aim is to identify the behavioural and control beliefs relevant comparing intentions and walking behaviour. Methods: Self-reported measures of beliefs, intention developed using Theory of Planned Behaviour were completed by 219 women with fibromyalgia (T1) and seven weeks later they reported their walking behaviour (T2). Difference analyses were conducted. Findings: Comparing to low intention in T1, high intention group showed higher scores in behavioural beliefs about walking: “my health will improve”, “my mood will be better”, “I will feel more active and agile”, “I will feel more positive”, “I will be good to distract me”, “my circulation will improve”, “I will lose weight”, “it will strengthen my muscles” (U = [3956, 4402]; p≤.01). Comparing to low behaviour, women reporting walking in T2 have showed lower scores in inhibitor control beliefs: “tiredness”, “being in pain” and “my mood: sadness, stress, worries” (t = [2.0, 2.6]; p=.05). Discussion: Motivational interventions could benefit of eliciting those positive consequences of walking, and implementing strategies to manage specific inhibitors. This study has been supported by MINECO (PSI2011-25152)