Purpose: The overall aim of this study was to estimate the possible mediating role of self-efficacy, catastrophic thinking and fear of movement and (re)injury between pain intensity and pain-related disability in two samples of acute pain patients, i.e. patients with musculoskeletal injuries and patients with whiplash injury.
Method: A cross sectional design with data-collection after an acute injury was used. Subjects were recruited at an emergency department. Sixty-four patients with acute whiplash associated disorders (WAD) and 74 patients with musculoskeletal injury completed the questionnaires.
Results: Self-efficacy was found to be a mediator between pain intensity and pain-related disability in the WAD group, whereas fear of movement and (re)injury appeared as mediator in the musculoskeletal-injury group. The strength of association between variables was weaker in the musculoskeletal-injury group compared to the WAD group.
Conclusions: It is important to assess fear of movement beliefs in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. Similarly, patients with acute WAD expressing low self-efficacy beliefs should be identified. An early detection of these beliefs may improve management at the acute phase and possibly reduce risks for slow improvements.