Illness perceptions and negative responses from medical professionals in patients with fibromyalgia: Association with patient satisfaction and number of hospital visits

Abstract Objective To examine whether illness perceptions among patients with fibromyalgia and negative responses from medical professionals correlate with their satisfaction with their physicians or with their number of hospital visits. Methods Questionnaires were sent by post to members of the Japan Fibromyalgia Support Association. Measures collected included, as independent variables, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire and the Illness Invalidation Inventory; and as outcomes, the Patient Satisfaction Consultation Questionnaire and the number of hospital visits. Results We analyzed data from 304 patients. Multiple logistic regressions showed that perception of poor treatment control and the experience of being discounted and misunderstood by medical professionals were strongly correlated with dissatisfaction with attending physicians. Patients who perceived poor treatment control visited the hospital fewer times, while patients who reported being discounted by medical professionals visited more times. Patients’ negative emotions correlated neither with patient satisfaction nor with the number of hospital visits. Conclusion Treatment effectiveness and the respect accorded to patients were the key factors significantly correlated both with patient satisfaction and the number of hospital visits. Practice implications Physicians should not emphasize only patients’ negative psychological status but also should convey a respectful attitude and help patients understand their current treatment is useful.