The Use of Goal Attainment Scaling to Facilitate and Assess Individualized Change in a Wellness Intervention for Women With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Purpose: The authors examined goal achievement over an 8-month period in women with fibromyalgia participating in a holistic health promotion intervention using Goal Attainment Scaling. Design: Descriptive. Methods: Goal attainment was assessed by interviews at five points: baseline (retrospectively), immediately after the 8-week classes, at the middle and end of the telephone support period, and 3 months later. Findings: The percentage of women who attained or exceeded their goals in the four health promotion areas of Lifestyle Adjustment, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Stress Management increased from between 15% and 26% at the end of the classes to between 58% and 76% at the end of the telephone support period. Although scores declined somewhat in the following 3 months, at least 60% of the women continued to report behaviors at or above their goal level in all areas except Physical Activity. Conclusions: Goal Attainment Scaling, an individually determined measure of change, can effectively capture ...