Work

FiRST Screening Positivity Among Patients Attending a Tertiary Chronic Pain service in Oman

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: To estimate the Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool (FiRST) screening positivity and its sociodemographic associations among adults attending a tertiary chronic pain service in Oman. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 401 adults with chronic pain at the Royal Hospital in Muscat between January 2023 and January 2025. Participants completed the six-item Arabic-Egyptian FiRST; scores ≥5/6 defined as positive screening. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Bivariate analyses used Pearson's chi-square test, with crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for categorical predictors. Variables with P < 0.20 in bivariate analyses and clinically relevant variables selected a priori were included in the multivariable logistic regression. Adjusted ORs with 95% CIs were reported for the results. Results: Overall, 170/401 participants screened positive (42.4%; exact 95% confidence interval [CI] 37.5-47.4%). Female sex was associated with higher adjusted odds (OR 1.723, 95% CI 1.065-2.787; P=0.027), while participants aged 40-59 years had lower adjusted odds than those aged 18-39 years (OR 0.528, 95% CI 0.317-0.879; P=0.014). The estimate for participants aged ≥60 years was imprecise and not statistically significant (OR 0.535, 95% CI 0.273-1.049; P=0.069). Family relationships, marital status, and academic level were not significantly associated with screening positivity after adjustment. Conclusion: FiRST screening positivity was common in this tertiary pain population in Oman. Female sex and age 40-59 years compared with 18-39 years were associated with screening positive. A positive FiRST screen requires further clinical assessment and does not establish fibromyalgia, central sensitization, or central pain syndrome.

Source: Journal of Pain Research

DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s652210

Authors: Sameeh Khamis Al Maharbi, Rawya Khamis Al Ghafri, Salama Abdullah Al Harthi, Maya Salim Al Muharrami, Maryam Mohammed Al Balushi

Institution: Royal Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,836