Table 5.

Themes of written comment provided by respondents

	Number of comments by student group
Theme	PT/OT	DC	ND
FM patients need to be educated to take control/responsibility for their recovery	1	4	2
FM patients can't tolerate the intensity of exercise supported in the literature	1		2
CAM has a large role to play in the treatment of FM*	1	2	5
I need more information on FM, or there needs to be more research on FM	1	10	7
FM patients need a mind-body/holistic/whole person approach to their assessment or rehabilitation (e.g. combinations of therapies such as exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy)	4	6	7
FM patients should be referred to multi-disciplinary pain programs	1	9
Passive therapy breeds dependence in FM		2
Labeling patients with FM can be harmful, as it can indoctrinate them into a disabling belief system		5
It is critical to acknowledge FM patient's condition as they understand it, to emphasize that it's not 'all in their head'		1	2
I would not treat FM		1
FM is part of multiple chemical sensitivity			1

* The PT/OT student emphasized nutrition, the DC student's emphasized spinal manipulative therapy, and the ND student's suggested homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, and nutrition

CAM = complementary and alternative medicine

FM = fibromyalgia

PT/OT = physiotherapy or occupational therapy

DC = chiropractic

ND = naturopathic medicine