Pain Neurophysiology Education for Sport Therapy Students

The Effect of Pain Neurophysiology Education on Sport Therapy Students Knowledge, Attitudes and Clinical Behaviour Towards Athletes With Chronic Pain: a Randomised Control Trial

The effect of a 70 minute Pain Neurophysiology Education session on Sport Therapy Students Knowledge, Attitudes and Clinical Behaviour Towards Athletes With Chronic Pain

This single-blind, randomised control trial aims to investigate the effect of a brief 70 minute Pain Neurophysiology Education session on sport therapy students knowledge, attitudes and clinical behaviour towards athletes with chronic pain. Participants will be selected from first year undergraduate and postgraduate sport therapy cohorts. Random number generator will assign participants into two subgroups. Group 1 will receive a control education on clinical 'red flags'. Red flags are questions that are routinely asked by therapists in clinical practice to screen for sinister pathology. Group 2 will receive education called 'Pain Neurophysiology Education' (taken from the Explain Pain publication). This mode of education uses the neurophysiology of pain to explain the experience, and has been used as an educational tool for patient, healthcare practitioners and students alike. Data collection (completion of three questionnaires) will take place immediately prior, and immediately after each education session.

The change in these outcomes pre and post intervention will subsequently be compared between groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1st year undergraduate sport therapy students
• 1st year postgraduate, pre-registration sport therapy students
• Enrolled at Teesside University, UK.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous detailed pain education on either PNE or Red Flags.