KNOWLEDGE OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF PAIN AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPY STUDENTS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

S. Prerana¹, M. Saravanan², B. Mihir¹, M. Keval¹, B. Zeel¹

¹The Sarvajanik College of Physiotherapy, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, India, ²Shree Bharatimaiya College of Optometry & Physiotherapy, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, India

Background: One of the common factors related to inadequacies in pain management is deficit in knowledge on pain and pain mechanisms. A paucity of evidence relating to knowledge on neurophysiology of pain, its assessment and management among health care professionals, especially Physiotherapists, is noticed.

Purpose: Physiotherapy colleges and Universities in India vary widely in their curriculum design and hence there is a considerable diversity in the understanding of pain among Physiotherapy students and practitioners. Since Physiotherapists are involved in pain management, an adequate understanding of neurophysiology of pain has an impact on the efficiency of pain management by Physiotherapists, the purpose of this study is to provide baseline descriptive information on the level of knowledge on Neurophysiology of pain among Physiotherapists.

Methods: This ongoing cross-sectional study included 804 volunteers including Clinical therapists, third, fourth year Bachelor of Physiotherapy students, interns and first and second year Master of Physiotherapy students. Prior to data collection, an informed written consent was obtained from participants after providing detailed information on the purpose of the study. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and Neurophysiology of pain questionnaire. The self-administered questionnaire included demographic details of participant and their exposure to pain concepts and pain assessment. Neurophysiology of pain Questionnaire was used to assess pain related knowledge, since it was devised to evaluate how an individual conceptualizes pain. Questionnaires were administered in person to minimize any potential bias and after completion, the questionnaires were checked for completeness.

Results: More than 90% of participants responded positively that their curriculum included topics on pain concepts and assessment during their academic learning at University level, except reasoning of pain modulation (58.7%). As per the results of the present study, pain physiology was predominantly included in first year syllabus (63.8%) and pain modulation in second year syllabus (63.7%). Out of maximum score of 19 of Neurophysiology of pain Questionnaire, overall mean score was 43.57±12.62. Clinicians had a mean score of 50.05±14.11, academicians scored 47.05±16.74 and students 41.98±11.52. Only 7 (0.87%) of the total participants scored more than 75% and 576 (71.6%) scored less than 50% in the questionnaire. Results of this study suggested limited knowledge of neurophysiology of pain among Physiotherapy students and professionals.

Conclusions: Limited knowledge in understanding the neurophysiology of pain among Physiotherapy students suggests a need for tailored education and inclusion of pain concepts early in the curriculum. Similarly, Physiotherapists should be trained and be part of continued education on pain concepts of modern pain science.

Implications: There is a need to update undergraduate and post graduate curriculum, implement added learning courses on modern pain science. This would in turn improve understanding evidence-based pain management and benefit patients with chronic pain conditions treated by Physiotherapists.

Funding acknowledgements: Self Funded

Keywords:
Neurophysiology of pain
Physiotherapist
Knowledge

Topics:
Education
Education: clinical
Education: continuing professional development

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: The Sarvajanik College of Physiotherapy

Committee: Institutional Ethics Committee

Ethics number: SMT/SCOP/IEC/19-20/647