Pain Neuroscience Education in cancer survivors with persistent pain: A pilot study

Roselien Pas; Laurence Leysen; Wanda De Goeij; Leonieke Vossebeld; Paul Van Wilgen; An De Groef; Margot De Kooning

doi:10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.027

Pain Neuroscience Education in cancer survivors with persistent pain: A pilot study

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2020 Oct;24(4):239-244. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.027. Epub 2020 Jul 11.

Authors

Roselien Pas¹, Laurence Leysen², Wanda De Goeij³, Leonieke Vossebeld³, Paul Van Wilgen⁴, An De Groef⁵, Margot De Kooning⁶

Affiliations

¹ Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: roselien.pas@vub.be.
² Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
³ Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy (KIMA), Faculty of Physical Education & Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium; The Berekuyl Academy, Harderwijk, the Netherlands.
⁴ Pain in Motion International Research Group, Belgium; Transcare Transdisciplinary Pain Management Centre, Groningen, the Netherlands.
⁵ KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Leuven, Belgium.
⁶ Pain in Motion Research Group (PAIN), Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Physiotherapy, University Hospital Brussels, Brussel, Belgium.

PMID: 33218517
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.027

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the Pilot Study: Pain Neuroscience Education in Cancer Survivors and describe the innovative educational component of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE).

Design: Quasi experimental design.

Method: The PNE program, encompassing a one-on-one education session and an information leaflet was given to 30 cancer survivors. At baseline and two weeks after the PNE, participants were asked to fill out following outcome measures; pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and HRQoL.

Findings: Following PNE, a significant decrease on pain intensity (p = 0.001), on the SF-36 subscale pain (p = 0.003) and for the following PCS subscales: Helplessness (p < 0.001), Rumination (p = 0.002) and Total score (p < 0.001) was found compared to baseline.

Conclusions: Although the current results need to be verified in a larger randomized, controlled trial, preliminary evidence shows a decrease in pain intensity and pain catastrophizing following PNE in cancer survivors with persistent pain.

Keywords: Cancer survivors; Chronic pain; Pain catastrophizing; Pain education; Pain intensity; Quality of life.

MeSH terms

Cancer Survivors*
Catastrophization
Chronic Pain*
Humans
Neoplasms*
Pain Measurement
Pilot Projects