BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to examine the @entity158 related health care utilization in @entity1 with @entity239 syndrome. METHODS: In a multicenter study six rheumatological hospitals associated in the rheumatological center of Heidelberg participated. All consecutive @entity1 which fulfilled the @entity12169 -criteria of @entity239 were assessed. Data about @entity158 and related treatments were available from n=259 @entity1 . RESULTS: @entity1 suffered from chronic generalized @entity158 on average for 5 years before being diagnosed as @entity239 . In most of the cases longlasting localized @entity158 symptoms preceeded generalized @entity158 . The spectrum of @entity158 related treatments seems to be wide and arbitrary: 87% took questionable or excessive medication. 86% had some form of physiotherapy and 41% already experienced psychological treatment. 28% of the @entity1 consulted dental surgeons including teeth extraction and 20% underwent multiple orthopaedic surgery. A mean of five different health care professionals were consulted regarding the @entity158 problem. Treatment satisfaction rated by the @entity1 was lowest with pharmacological and highest with psychological treatment and physiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The health care-seeking behavior of @entity239 - @entity1 seems to be characterized by a multitude of different treatment attempts. Treatment was often invasive and focused on localized symptoms rather than on the generalized @entity158 . An early confirmation of the diagnosis and a more evidence based treatment is strongly indicated.

[Health care utilization in @entity1 with XXXX ( @entity239 )].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity12169 :: ('49', 'Gene') :: ['ACR'] @entity239 :: ('MESH:D005356', 'Disease') :: ['fibromyalgia'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain', 'pain syndrome']
@entity239 :: (MESH:D005356,Disease) :: ['Fibromyalgia Syndrome']
