Bridging Knowledge and Application: A Longitudinal Study of a Comprehensive Pain Science Framework in Physical...

This study investigates the impact of a comprehensive pain science framework that includes integrated content, a standalone course, and training of core faculty in a physical therapist (PT) education program. The aim is to determine if this approach leads to significant changes in students' knowledge, beliefs, and confidence.

Recent studies have examined various implementation strategies for pain education in entry-level PT education programs, yielding mixed results in knowledge retention and changes in attitudes and beliefs.

Physical therapist students enrolled in a hybrid, accelerated program (n = 99).

Before the program's start, core faculty members completed a pain science continuing education (CE) course. Pain science content was integrated throughout the curriculum, coupled with a standalone 2-credit-hour course. Data were collected using the revised Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire, the Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapists, and the 5-question Pain Care Confidence Scale. A repeated-measure ANOVA was used to examine knowledge and beliefs, and a repeated t-test was used to examine confidence.

Students' pain knowledge fluctuated over time but showed an overall significant increase, with the largest increases occurring in the first 6 months of the integrated course curriculum (54-75%) and during the standalone pain science course (70-90%). The biomedical belief scores significantly decreased over time, while psychosocial belief scores fluctuated over time, with a significant overall increase by the end of the pain science course. Confidence scores significantly increased during the standalone pain science course, t(84) = -14.309, P < .001, d = -1.552.

This study examined the implementation of a pain science framework in 1 cohort and found significant changes in students' knowledge, beliefs, and confidence. This framework uniquely combined CE for core faculty, integrated pain education information throughout the curriculum, and culminated with a standalone pain science course. This study provides insight into effective comprehensive pain science education curriculum changes, which may help other PT programs model and analyze their pain science curriculum.