title: Assessing knowledge on fibromyalgia among Internet users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess knowledge on fibromyalgia in a sample of patients, their families, and professionals interested on the theme from some Brazilian states.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of the results of an electronic fibromyalgia knowledge questionnaire completed by 362 adults who had access to the the support group for fibromyalgia site (www.unifesp.br/grupos/fibromialgia). The answers were grouped according to age, sex, years of schooling, and type of interest in the condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  92% of the responders were women and 62% had higher educational level. The worst results were observed in the "joint protection and energy conservation" domain, followed by the "medication in fibromyalgia" domain. The best results were recorded in the "exercises in fibromyalgia" domain. The answers differed significantly between sexes, and women achieved a higher percentage of correct answers. The female sex accounted for a statistically superior result in five statistical analyses (four questions and one domain).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study suggests the need for a strategic planning for an educational approach to fibromyalgia in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate student of the Centro Cochrane do Brasil-Unifesp. felipe.moretti@unifesp.br
authors.forename: Felipe Azevedo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Roberto Ezequiel
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Heymann
authors.forename: Valdecir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marvulle
authors.forename: Daniel Feldman
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Pollak
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires