PREVALENCE OF FIBROMYALGIA AMONG CRITICAL CARE NURSES AND COPING STRATEGIES

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive symptoms. Critical care nurses are exposed to sustained occupational stress, rotating shifts, high workload, and emotional demands, which may predispose them to fibromyalgia. Evidence regarding its prevalence and associated coping strategies among critical care nurses in Pakistan remains scarce. Objective: To determine the prevalence of fibromyalgia among essential nurses of care and to evaluate associated occupational, psychosocial factors, and coping strategies. Study Design: Descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. Settings: Critical care units of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Duration of Study: January to July 2025. Methods: A total of 90 registered critical care nurses were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Fibromyalgia was assessed using the 2016 revised American College of Rheumatology criteria. Coping strategies were evaluated using the Brief COPE inventory. Sleep quality and perceived stress were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Data were analyzed using SPSS. Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify factors independently associated with fibromyalgia. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.8 ± 5.7 years, and 70.0% were female. Fibromyalgia was identified in 26.7% of nurses. The most frequently reported symptoms among affected nurses were fatigue (87.5%), non-restorative sleep (83.3%), and cognitive difficulty (66.7%). Fibromyalgia showed significant associations with rotating or night duties, poor sleep quality, higher perceived stress, and longer weekly working hours. On multivariable analysis, poor sleep quality (AOR 4.62), high perceived stress (AOR 3.88), and rotating or night shifts (AOR 3.53) remained independent predictors. Nurses with fibromyalgia more commonly used venting and avoidant coping strategies, whereas active coping was less frequently reported. Conclusion: Fibromyalgia affects nearly one quarter of critical care nurses in this tertiary care setting and is strongly associated with modifiable occupational and psychosocial factors, particularly sleep disturbance and stress. Interventions aimed at improving work schedules, sleep hygiene, stress management, and adaptive coping strategies may reduce the burden of fibromyalgia and enhance wellbeing among critical care nurses.