Do Maladaptive Imaging Beliefs Predict Self-Reported Pain Interference and Physical Function in Patients With...

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Pain management
• Medical imaging beliefs

Background:

• Maladaptive beliefs regarding medical imaging are common in patients with musculoskeletal pain.
• These beliefs may influence patient expectations and adherence to treatment.
• Understanding the relationship between imaging beliefs and clinical outcomes is crucial for effective pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between maladaptive imaging beliefs and pain interference and physical function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
• To determine if these beliefs predict clinical outcomes over a 6-week period.
• To assess the impact of specific imaging beliefs (e.g., need to rule out serious conditions, guide treatment) on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study design involving 152 patients with musculoskeletal disorders undergoing outpatient physical therapy.
• Assessment of maladaptive imaging beliefs using a four-question survey.
• Correlation analysis using Kendall's tau rank and Spearman's rho coefficients.
• Generalized linear models to predict pain interference and physical function at baseline and 6 weeks.

Main Results:

• Maladaptive imaging beliefs positively correlated with pain interference and negatively with physical function.
• Beliefs about ruling out serious conditions and validating symptoms showed significant correlations with both outcomes.
• Each additional maladaptive imaging belief was associated with increased pain interference and decreased physical function at 6 weeks.

Conclusions:

• Maladaptive imaging beliefs are significantly correlated with pain interference and physical function in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
• These beliefs can predict poorer outcomes, emphasizing the need to address patient expectations regarding medical imaging.
• Interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive imaging beliefs may improve clinical outcomes for this patient population.