The Influence of "Labels" for Neck Pain on Recovery Expectations Following a Motor Vehicle Crash: An...

Area of Science:

• Pain Management and Rehabilitation
• Trauma and Injury Research
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Neck pain following a motor vehicle crash (MVC) is common and can be influenced by various factors.
• The terminology used to describe post-MVC neck pain may affect patient perceptions and subsequent care-seeking behaviors.
• Understanding these influences is crucial for effective patient communication and management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if different labels for neck pain post-MVC influence recovery expectations and beliefs about management.
• To explore the underlying reasons for lower recovery expectations and increased likelihood of lodging a claim.
• To examine how prior neck pain history and sociodemographic factors moderate these labeling effects.

Main Methods:

• An online randomized experiment involving 2229 general population participants.
• Participants were assigned to read scenarios describing neck pain after an MVC, each with a different label: 'whiplash injury', 'whiplash-associated disorder', 'posttraumatic neck pain', 'neck pain', or 'neck strain'.
• Primary outcome measured was recovery expectations (0-10 scale); secondary outcomes included management beliefs and claim intention. Qualitative content analysis was nested within the design.

Main Results:

• Labels 'whiplash-associated disorder' and 'neck pain' resulted in significantly lower recovery expectations compared to 'neck strain'.
• 'Whiplash-associated disorder' increased recovery uncertainty, while 'neck pain' led to greater doubt regarding healthcare providers.
• Participants in the 'neck strain' group were less likely to consider lodging a claim than those in the 'whiplash-associated disorder' or 'whiplash injury' groups.

Conclusions:

• The specific label assigned to neck pain following a motor vehicle crash demonstrably influences patient expectations for recovery and preferences for management.
• While statistically significant, the clinical relevance of the observed small differences in outcomes requires further investigation.
• Neck pain history and household income were identified as moderators influencing the impact of labels on recovery expectations and claim intentions, respectively.