FIBROMYALGIA IN RHEUMATOLOGY PRACTICE - A SURVEY OF CANADIAN RHEUMATOLOGISTS

Objective. To determine the perceived proportion of fibromyalgia (FMS) among new consultations in rheumatology practices relative to other r heumatologic disorders. Methods, We conducted a cross sectional random mail survey of 100 Canadian rheumatologists. The sampling frame was t he 1991 membership directory of the Canadian Rheumatology Association from which 100 nonpediatric rheumatologists practising in Canada were selected by stratified random sampling. Results, Results from 89 respo ndents indicate that FMS is perceived to be one of the 3 most common d iagnoses among new patient consultations across Canada, Perceived inci dence was not affected by urban size or university affiliation of prac tice. FMS was the only rheumatologic disorder believed by a majority o f respondents to have increased in proportion over the past 5 years. C onclusion, In Canada, FMS appears to contribute to a high proportion o f outpatient care in rheumatology.