“The complaining women”: health professionals’ perceptions on patients with fibromyalgia in Spain

The uncertainty surrounding fibromyalgia together with the fact that those affected are primarily women, seem to influence professional practice in terms of lack of recognition of Fibromyalgia as a severe disease. Increased training of all health professionals is essential to improving the support and attention given to patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Implications for rehabilitation Fibromyalgia • In order to improve fibromyalgia patients´ attention, health providers should learn how to assist patients without prejudices. • Training programs for health providers should include sensitization about the severity of fibromyalgia. • Health providers should be aware of the existence of stereotypes about women suffering from fibromyalgia. • Fibromyalgia protocols should give skills to health providers to avoid offering a gender-biased attention to patients.