Table 1

Response data to questions on the etiology of fibromyalgia



Response options (n) %

Survey items
Student groups
strongly disagree
disagree
uncertain
agree
strongly agree

Patients with FM have an as yet undiscovered physiological abnormality
PT/OT
(1) 2%
(12) 20%
(23) 38%
(21) 34%
(4) 7%

DC
(2) 1%
(26) 18%
(64) 45%
(41) 29%
(9) 6%

ND
(5) 4%
(18) 14%
(56) 42%
(47) 35%
(6) 5%
In most patients with FM, an underlying psychiatric illness is a prominent cause of their symptoms
PT/OT †
(5) 8%
(24) 39%
(19) 31%
(12) 20%
(1) 2%

DC †

(26) 18%
(38) 27%
(70) 49%
(8) 6%

ND
(6) 5%
(33) 25%
(40) 30%
(50) 38%
(2) 2%
Patients with FM typically demonstrate muscle tissue pathology on biopsy
PT/OT †
(1) 2%
(12) 20%
(23) 38%
(21) 34%
(4) 7%

DC †
(2) 1%
(26) 18%
(64) 45%
(41) 29%
(9) 6%

ND †
(5) 4%
(18) 14%
(56) 42%
(47) 35%
(6) 5%

† Significantly different reply when compared to other professions (chi-squared test, 2-sided, p ≤ 0.05)

FM = fibromyalgia

PT/OT = physiotherapy or occupational therapy

DC = chiropractic

ND = naturopathic medicine

Busse et al. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008 8:24   doi:10.1186/1472-6882-8-24