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Expert perspectives on the nociplastic pain descriptor: a systematic review of textual evidence protocol
Jelle C Schouten1, Wichor M Bramer2, Gwendolyne G M Scholten-Peeters3
1Department of Pain Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Objective:
The objective of this review is to systematically assess and synthesize textual evidence regarding the concept, including the terminology and definition, and International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) criteria on the nociplastic pain descriptor.
Introduction:
Since its formal recognition by the IASP in 2017, the nociplastic pain descriptor has elicited both endorsement and critique. Currently, no systematic overview critically synthesizes the diverse expert perspectives on the nociplastic pain descriptor, contributing to misinterpretation, conceptual confusion, clinical challenges, and ongoing debate.
Eligibility Criteria:
This review will include published and unpublished textual evidence reflecting expert perspectives on the nociplastic pain descriptor, including clinician narratives, expert opinion, and policy papers. Textual evidence on all body systems and any pain duration will be eligible, without restrictions based on contextual factors. Social media and video content will be excluded.
Methods:
This review will follow the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of textual evidence. Published textual evidence in any language from 2016 onwards will be searched in Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO. Unpublished textual evidence will be searched for in specialized gray literature databases, Google, and international pain organization websites. Methodological quality will be assessed using the JBI critical appraisal checklists for textual evidence. Study selection, appraisal, data extraction, and synthesis will be conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Data synthesis will follow a meta-aggregative approach. Confidence in the findings will be graded using a modified ConQual approach. Good practice statements will be issued, where appropriate.
Review Registration:
PROSPERO CRD420251270659.
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