Depression, Self-Efficacy, Health Status, and Health Care Costs: A Comparison of Men with Fibromyalgia or Osteoarthritis

Objectives: To compare men who were diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] to those with osteoarthritis [OA] on psychological well-being, health status, and health care costs. Methods: Twenty-six men with FMS and 130 men with OA completed a battery of measures that assessed depression, self-efficacy over their condition, and health status. Demographic information was also recorded. Health care use data were collected from patient medical records for the year prior to the baseline assessment. Results: The results indicated that despite being significantly younger, men with FMS experienced lower quality of well-being, lower self-efficacy, and higher depression than men with OA. However, there were no significant differences in overall health care costs. Conclusion: The findings indicate that there are identifiable differences among men with FMS and OA that should be considered in the design of interventions and treatment options. The findings from the present study replicate those found among women with FMS when compared with women who have OA. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these differences.