Scheme B - Does pain reconceptualisation occur following PNE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients’ understanding of their back pain before and after a pain neurophysiology education session.
IRAS ID
148851
Contact name
Richard King
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Many people in the UK have chronic lower back pain (CLBP). Education is an important component in the management of these patients. In the past 10 years a new approach to patient pain education, known as pain neurophysiology education (PNE), has emerged and become widely used in clinical practice. There is a growing body of quantitative research showing that this intervention can be beneficial for patient’s pain and function. It is postulated that patients ‘reconceptualise’ their pain following PNE. The term ‘Pain reconceptualisation’ is taken to mean that patients adopt a new understanding of their pain following PNE. This new understanding is that patients believe their CLBP is associated with a sensitisation of the nervous system rather than tissue damage and that pain can be modulated through a range of biological, psychological and social factors. This pain reconceptualisation is considered a less threatening perception of CLBP that is more conducive to rehabilitation. However, there are no qualitative studies investigating patient’s perceptions of their pain either before or after PNE. The aim of this study is to explore back pain patient’s perceptions of their pain both before and after a PNE session and to look for evidence, for or against, the notion of reconceptualisation. A purposive sample of 8-12 individuals who have been referred to PNE as part of their usual care will be interviewed on a one-to-one basis in the Pain Clinic at The James Cook Hospital by Richard King (Specialist Physiotherapist) using semi-structured interviewing techniques. The interviews will be typed verbatim and themes from the interviews identified. These themes will explore patient’s understanding and beliefs about their CLBP both before and after having undergone PNE. To do this the participants’ first account will be compared to their second account for evidence, for or against, the notion of pain reconceptualisation.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/0153
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion