This study investigates the effect of pain neuroscience education (PNE) on pain knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors among undergraduate physiotherapy students in Jordan
Physiotherapy students at the Hashemite University will be randomly assigned into either pain neuroscience education or control lectures groups. Both groups will receive a 70-min didactic group-lecture. The control group will receive education about red-flags which are special screening questions for serious pathology. The red-flags education will discuss tissue pathology and triage for back pain classification. Neurophysiology and the biopsychosocial mode will not be discussed. The intervention group will receive a PNE lecture. All primary and secondary outcome measures consist of validated questionnaires (e.g., RNPQ, HC-PAIRS) or secondary and study-specific instruments that have undergone validation testing.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
120
The intervention group will receive a lecture of 70min duration on pain neuroscience. The objective of this educational session is to educate students that pain can be overprotective, and that nociceptive transmission can be heavily influenced by central sensitisation (sensitivity of the central nervous system) as well as the thoughts and beliefs of the individual. The session used drawings, stories and metaphors to depict the underlying neuroscience of pain, and current pain theory.
The control group received an education session of red flags. Red flags form part of routine subjective practice for therapists as a process of screening serious or potentially sinister pathologies. Sign and symptoms for such pathologies include history of cancer, systemic symptoms such as fever or unexplained weight loss, and saddle analgesia. The red flag session will not include the neuroscience of pain.
The Hashemite University
Zarqa, Zarqa Governorate, Jordan
Revised Pain Neurophysiology Questionnaire (RNPQ)
The 12-item RNPQ will be used to assess knowledge of pain neurophysiology. Responses are marked yes, no or undecided. One point is awarded for correct answers. Scores range from 0 to 12, with high scores indicating good knowledge.
Time frame: Before and immediately after and 6 months after the education session
The modified HC-PAIRS
The modified HC-PAIRS (Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale will be used to measure attitudes and beliefs towards patients with chronic pain and their ability to function. This 13-item questionnaire uses a 7-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). Scores range from 13 to 91 with lower scores suggesting more positive attitudes.
Time frame: Prior to and immediately and 6 months after the education session
Case vignette to measure behavior (clinical recommendations).
A case study vignette will be used to assess clinical behavior with a chronic low back pain patient. The participants will be asked to indicate, via four multiple-choice questions their recommendations about usual daily activities, work, exercise and bed rest. The number and percentage of appropriate recommendations will be recorded. This tool is developed de novo and developed for this study to assess guideline-concordant recommendations for low back pain management. The validation process, conducted prior to participant recruitment, included \[expert review for content validity, confirmatory analysis, and reliability testing\].
Time frame: Before and immediately and 6 months after the education session
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