Rheumatologist and Fibromyalgia specialist Daniel J. Clauw, MD, director of the University of Michigan Chronic Pain & Fatigue Research Center, created Fibromyalgia: A Label for Chronic, Widespread Pain. This is an educational activity for rheumatologists and clinicians in primary care and psychiatry. The CME/CE test and activity will be on the MedScape website through May 2009.
The goal of this activity is to meet the educational needs of healthcare providers involved in the management of fibromyalgia.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Recognize the symptoms and clinical presentation associated with fibromyalgia.
- Describe the approaches to differential diagnosis of fibromyalgia, differentiate it from other conditions that cause widespread pain, and describe the role of different clinical specialties in making this diagnosis.
- Discuss the need for appropriate management of fibromyalgia for optimal patient outcomes.
I signed up for MedScape so that I could view the test questions and here they are with the correct answers and percentages of correct answers at the time I viewed the test. This test is for clincians but that doesn’t mean they are the only ones who took the test. It gives us an idea though of how much people really know about Fibromyalgia.
1. Which of the following best describes the hallmark characteristic of pain in patients with FM?
Answer: Widespread pain throughout the body.
Percentage Correct: 77%
2. Which of the following statements is true regarding the genetic influences on FM?
Answer: FM aggregates in families, and relatives of patients with FM have been reported to have an 8.5-fold higher risk of having FM.
Percentage Correct: 39%
3. Which of the following comorbid conditions presented in CW’s case are commonly seen in patients with FM?
Answer: Irritable bowel syndrome and nonallergic rhinitis.
Percentage Correct: 62%
4. Which of the following statements is correct about FM and stressors that can trigger the development of the condition or cause flares?
Answer: Viral infection and extreme exercise/activity are both stressors for FM.
Percentage Correct: 49%
5. Which of the following ACR criteria for diagnosis of FM are present in this case?
Answer: Widespread pain for 3 months and presence of 11 tender points on digital palpation among the 9 pairs of specified sites (18 points).
Percentage Correct: 52%
6. Which of the following are limitations of the ACR diagnostic criteria for FM?
Answer: The criteria were developed primarily for use as research criteria and they may lead to underdiagnosis of FM if rigidly adhered to in clinical practice.
Percentage Correct: 60%
7. Which of the following are “red flags” that a patient has FM?
Answer: A long history of pain immediately following trauma.
Percentage Correct: 72%
8. Which of the following pair of conditions simulate FM and should be part of the differential diagnosis?
Answer: Rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism
Percentage Correct: 57%
9. Which of the following healthcare professionals might be best positioned to coordinate the overall care of patients with FM?
Answer: Primary care clinicians
Percentage Correct: 43%
10. Which of the following statements is true regarding the need for a multidisciplinary approach to FM?
Answer: The American Pain Society Fibromyalgia Panel recommends a multidisciplinary clinical approach.
Percentage Correct: 86%
11. Which of the following psychological factors would likely be associated with the best prognosis in FM?
Answer: Very low catastrophizing and a low level of depression/anxiety.
Percentage Correct: 64%
12. Which of the following pharmacologic therapies is best supported by strong evidence in FM?
Answer: Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Percentage Correct: 31%
13. Which of the following nonpharmacologic approaches have the most supportive data to manage FM?
Answer: Exercise and CBT
Percentage Correct: 83%
For each one of the above questions listed, there is some great, in-depth information on Fibromyalgia.
Source: MedScape Today
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