Abstract
Objective: To assess the effects of an early educational intervention program's ability to alter the perceptions and attitudes of future physicians regarding chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia (CFS/FM), improve their understanding and acceptance of these diseases, make them feel more comfortable in diagnosing and treating patients.
Method: Third-year medical students were surveyed before and after an educational intervention program. The three questions posed to the students in the survey were: (1) How comfortable do you feel you are in diagnosing and treating patients with CFS /FM?, (2) Do you consider CFS/FM legitimate illnesses?, and (3) Do you want to treat patients with CFS/FM?
Results: The educational intervention program helped about half of the future physicians feel comfortable in diagnosing and treating patients with CFS/FM and improved by over 25% their willingness to treat patients with CFS.
Conclusion: An educational intervention program appeared to improve future physicians' understanding and appreciation of CFS/FM, made them feel more comfortable diagnosing and treating these diseases, and increased their willingness to treat patients with CFS/FM.