title: The significance of FM associations for women with FM.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Living with fibromyalgia (FM) means living with a long-term pain syndrome that is invisible to others. Support and understanding from others seem to be important to managing the affected daily life. The aim of this study was to describe the significance of FM associations for women with FM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collection was carried out through focus group discussions with seventeen women with FM. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The findings show that women experienced associations for people with FM as important as they gave access to contacts with others with similar experiences. Their need of togetherness was fulfilled at the association and they described being strengthened by the support received. Because of the lack of information and knowledge about FM, the association was described as an important venue for getting and mediating information about the illness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the association the women seem to be empowered, which increases their ability to manage their daily lives despite the limitations imposed by FM. Healthcare personnel could not satisfy the women's needs and to manage to support women with FM. There is a need for communication based on a shared understanding between the women and healthcare personnel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted the need for communication based on a shared understanding between people with chronic illness and healthcare personnel to support and strengthen women with FM in their daily lives. The FM associations meet the needs for togetherness, confirmation, and information that the women with FM in this study described and healthcare personnel could not satisfy. Healthcare personnel can learn from FM associations how to empower women with FM in their everyday lives.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nursing, Department of Health Science, Luleå University of Technology , Luleå , Sweden.
authors.forename: Päivi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juuso
authors.forename: Siv
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Söderberg
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Skär
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003142:Communication; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D012944:Social Support; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Association; fibromyalgia; women