Pain KnowledgeNCT07273461
Pain Neuroscience Education in Physiotherapy Students: Effects on Knowledge and Attitudes
A study testing Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) in people with Pain Knowledge and Pain Management, run by Ayşe ŞİMŞEK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to examine the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain-related knowledge and attitudes among undergraduate physiotherapy students. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Pain Knowledge, Pain Management, Physiotherapist Students
- What is being tested?
- Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 155 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2025to 31 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate physiotherapy and rehabilitation students (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year)
- Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- Having previously received formal Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Karabük University Faculty of Health Sciences
Karabük, 78050
About this study
Official title: Investigation of the Effects of Pain Neuroscience Education on Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain in Physiotherapy Students
This study aims to examine the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain-related knowledge and attitudes among undergraduate physiotherapy students. The PNE session focuses on explaining pain neurophysiology, chronic pain mechanisms, central sensitization, and the biopsychosocial factors that influence pain. Participants complete validated questionnaires assessing pain knowledge, pain-related beliefs, and attitudes before and immediately after the intervention. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a brief educational session can produce immediate improvements in pain knowledge and pain-related attitudes across different academic years in physiotherapy students.
Read the detailed description
This study is a retrospective registration of a completed pre-post interventional study conducted among undergraduate physiotherapy students. The objective of the research was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain-related knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.
The PNE session lasted approximately 70 minutes and was delivered by a physiotherapist trained in pain neuroscience and the biopsychosocial model. The session covered pain neurophysiology, the distinction between acute and chronic pain, central sensitization, factors contributing to pain experiences, and the role of cognition, emotions, and behaviors within the biopsychosocial framework.
Participants completed self-report outcome measures at two time points:
Baseline (pre-intervention)
Immediately after the intervention
Outcome measures included validated instruments assessing pain knowledge and pain-related beliefs:
Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ)
Pain Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire (KNAP)
Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS)
Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT)
The study followed a single-group design with no control group and no randomization.
The study was conducted between April and October 2025 at Karabük University, Turkey. Ethical approval was obtained from the Karabük University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/2154), and written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.
The results of this research aim to contribute to the understanding of how a brief PNE session may provide immediate improvements in pain-related knowledge and attitudes among physiotherapy students. The findings may support the integration of structured pain education approaches into physiotherapy curricula and early clinical training programs.
- Conditions
- Pain Knowledge, Pain Management, Physiotherapist Students
- Being tested
- Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
- Keywords
- pain neuroscience education, physiotherapy students, pain knowledge, pain beliefs
- Medical subject headings
- Agnosia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)Behavioural
The program consists of a single 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) session, which includes explanations of pain neurophysiology, central sensitization, biopsychosocial pain concepts, and cognitive-behavioral factors influencing chronic pain. Delivered by a trained certified physiotherapist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Neuroscience Education Group | Experimental | Experimental: Pain Neuroscience Education Group Arm Description: Single-group intervention arm receiving a 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education session. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Receives: Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ)
The rNPQ assessed participants' knowledge of pain neurophysiology. The scale measures participants' knowledge level on topics such as pain mechanisms, neuropathic pain, central sensitization, and biopsychosocial components of pain. The scale consists of a total of 12 questions with "true", "false", or "I don't know" answers. Incorrect answers and answers marked as undecided receive 0 points. The scale is scored between 0 and 12, and pain knowledge increases as the score increases.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Knowledge and Attitudes of Pain Questionnaire (KNAP)
Participants' knowledge and attitudes towards pain were measured with the KNAP. The KNAP scale consists of 30 questions and is scored on a six-point Likert scale ranging from completely disagree to completely agree. The total score is between 0 and 150 points. A higher score from the scale indicates knowledge and attitudes that better reflect modern pain neuroscience.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT)
The PABS-PT was used to distinguish between biomedical and biopsychosocial orientations towards treating low back pain in physiotherapists. The scale is scored as 1 = strongly disagree and 6 = strongly agree. Treatment orientation is measured in biomedical (factor 1) and biopsychosocial (factor 2) subscales. Subscale scores are calculated by simply summing the scores corresponding to the selected response for each item. The subscale with the highest score indicates the participant's dominant treatment orientation
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Health Care Providers' Pain Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS )
The HC-PAIRS was developed to examine the impact of attitudes and beliefs of health professionals on the clinical management of chronic nonspecific low back pain.The scale consists of 12 items, ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree). After items 1 and 5 are reversed, the total score is calculated and ranges from 12 to 84. Higher scores indicate a strong belief that low back pain is a legitimate cause of activity limitation and disability, and negative attitudes and beliefs of health professionals towards low back pain.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Dec 2025
- Study start1 Apr 2025
- Primary completion31 Oct 2025
- Study completion31 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pain KnowledgeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 155 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ayşe ŞİMŞEK
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Ayşe ŞİMŞEK, Hacettepe University
- Investigators
- Ayşe Şimşek, MSc, Study director, Karabuk University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07273461
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- KBU-2025-2154
- Status last verified
- Nov 2025
- First submitted
- 27 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 9 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of the Effects of Pain Neuroscience Education on Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain in Physiotherapy Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07273461
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- KBU-2025-2154
- Conditions
- Pain Knowledge, Pain Management, Physiotherapist Students
- Keywords
- pain neuroscience education, physiotherapy students, pain knowledge, pain beliefs
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 155 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ayşe ŞİMŞEKUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 9 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to examine the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain-related knowledge and attitudes among undergraduate physiotherapy students. The PNE session focuses on explaining pain neurophysiology, chronic pain mechanisms, central sensitization, and the biopsychosocial factors that influence pain. Participants complete validated questionnaires assessing pain knowledge, pain-related beliefs, and attitudes before and immediately after the intervention. The purpose of the study is to determine whether a brief educational session can produce immediate improvements in pain knowledge and pain-related attitudes across different academic years in physiotherapy students.
Detailed description
This study is a retrospective registration of a completed pre-post interventional study conducted among undergraduate physiotherapy students. The objective of the research was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single-session Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on pain-related knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.
The PNE session lasted approximately 70 minutes and was delivered by a physiotherapist trained in pain neuroscience and the biopsychosocial model. The session covered pain neurophysiology, the distinction between acute and chronic pain, central sensitization, factors contributing to pain experiences, and the role of cognition, emotions, and behaviors within the biopsychosocial framework.
Participants completed self-report outcome measures at two time points:
Baseline (pre-intervention)
Immediately after the intervention
Outcome measures included validated instruments assessing pain knowledge and pain-related beliefs:
Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ)
Pain Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire (KNAP)
Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS)
Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT)
The study followed a single-group design with no control group and no randomization.
The study was conducted between April and October 2025 at Karabük University, Turkey. Ethical approval was obtained from the Karabük University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/2154), and written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.
The results of this research aim to contribute to the understanding of how a brief PNE session may provide immediate improvements in pain-related knowledge and attitudes among physiotherapy students. The findings may support the integration of structured pain education approaches into physiotherapy curricula and early clinical training programs.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Neuroscience Education Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)Experimental: Pain Neuroscience Education Group Arm Description: Single-group intervention arm receiving a 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education session. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and immediately after the intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Undergraduate physiotherapy and rehabilitation students (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year)
- Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Having previously received formal Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE)The program consists of a single 70-minute Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) session, which includes explanations of pain neurophysiology, central sensitization, biopsychosocial pain concepts, and cognitive-behavioral factors influencing chronic pain. Delivered by a trained certified physiotherapist. | Behavioural | Pain Neuroscience Education Group |
Primary outcome
Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ)
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
The rNPQ assessed participants' knowledge of pain neurophysiology. The scale measures participants' knowledge level on topics such as pain mechanisms, neuropathic pain, central sensitization, and biopsychosocial components of pain. The scale consists of a total of 12 questions with "true", "false", or "I don't know" answers. Incorrect answers and answers marked as undecided receive 0 points. The scale is scored between 0 and 12, and pain knowledge increases as the score increases.
Knowledge and Attitudes of Pain Questionnaire (KNAP)
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
Participants' knowledge and attitudes towards pain were measured with the KNAP. The KNAP scale consists of 30 questions and is scored on a six-point Likert scale ranging from completely disagree to completely agree. The total score is between 0 and 150 points. A higher score from the scale indicates knowledge and attitudes that better reflect modern pain neuroscience.
Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT)
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
The PABS-PT was used to distinguish between biomedical and biopsychosocial orientations towards treating low back pain in physiotherapists. The scale is scored as 1 = strongly disagree and 6 = strongly agree. Treatment orientation is measured in biomedical (factor 1) and biopsychosocial (factor 2) subscales. Subscale scores are calculated by simply summing the scores corresponding to the selected response for each item. The subscale with the highest score indicates the participant's dominant treatment orientation
Health Care Providers' Pain Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS )
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention
The HC-PAIRS was developed to examine the impact of attitudes and beliefs of health professionals on the clinical management of chronic nonspecific low back pain.The scale consists of 12 items, ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree). After items 1 and 5 are reversed, the total score is calculated and ranges from 12 to 84. Higher scores indicate a strong belief that low back pain is a legitimate cause of activity limitation and disability, and negative attitudes and beliefs of health professionals towards low back pain.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ayşe Şimşek, MSc study director
Karabuk University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) in people with Pain Knowledge and Pain Management, run by Ayşe ŞİMŞEK at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Dec 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire (rNPQ) (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Dec 2025.