Pain Neuroscience Education in Students

Pain neuroscience education (PNE) was conducted in physical conditions similar to the university classrooms where the study was performed. The sessions were conducted as 70-minute didactic group lessons with the same content held in separate sessions for students in each class. PowerPoint (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) presentations prepared by the instructor were used in all sessions. Metaphors, anecdotes, graphics, and pictures were used in an attempt to convey the information and messages about pain physiology and theory more permanently and effectively. In the PNE sessions, it was explained that the nervous system can be overprotective and that in addition to the sensitivity of the central nervous system, nociceptive transmission can be affected by an individual's thoughts, beliefs, and surroundings. At the end of the session, the students were given time to ask questions, but group discussion was limited to 15 minutes due to time restrictions.