Barriers and facilitators reported by patients with non-specific low back pain regarding a pain science education program: a mixed method study

• Grant number: 25/02226-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Thaís Cristina Chaves
• Grantee: Vitória Ayumi Fujiwara
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Qualitative research has been used to investigate the perceptions of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) about their experiences when participating in pain education programs. However, few studies are available in the literature and no studies have reported on patients' perceptions after a pain education program administered individually and considering a mixed method research method (qualitative and quantitative). Thus, the objective of the present study is to investigate the perception of patients with CLBP about an individually administered Pain Science Education Program (PSE), exploring aspects such as the difficulty of understanding, the occurrence of any embarrassment and the participants' suggestions for improvements in the content and form of presentation of the program. The research sample will consist of 20 individuals of both sexes, aged between 18 and 60 years old and who have had CLBP for at least 3 months. At the first meeting with the patient, structured questionnaires will be administered (quantitative research) to screen and collect information to assess the effect of the educational intervention. At the second meeting, the PSE will be presented. And at the third meeting, the patient will again answer some of the questionnaires and also a semi-structured (qualitative research) in-depth interview about their perceptions of the PSE. We hope that the results of this study will contribute to the implementation of changes to the PSE with the aim of specifically and in a personalized way according to the needs of the target audience.