Teaching Doctors to Diagnose CFS

The Effectiveness of Early Educational Intervention in Improving
Future Physicians' Attitudes Regarding CFS/FM

Journal: J of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2007, pp. 25-30

Authors: Tony V. Lu MD, Susan R. Torres-Harding PhD, Leonard A Jason PhD


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.