The PainSMART Research Program: Evaluating a Pain Education Strategy for Patients Seeking Primary Care Physiotherapy

"Be PainSMART:er is a seven minute long film developed by the research group based on modern pain science and previous qualitative studies.~The film is divided into three sections:~Section 1- Educates that MSKP is a complex protective system that does not reflect the anatomical state of the body and provides reassurance that MSKP is rarely caused by serious pathology.~Section 2- Provides advice on active MSKP coping, such as encouraging work despite some pain, in an attempt to reconceptualise the belief that a painful body part needs to be rested.~Section 3- Aims to prepare patients for a biopsychosocial physiotherapy consultation by encouraging them to reflect on the film's messages.~In addition to the film, the questions posed to the participant at the initial consultation aim to facilitate the discussion around the film and MSKP reflections. Management subsequent to the initial consultation will follow usual management."

Patients randomised to the control group follow usual MSKP physiotherapy management. Specifically, patients first contact their physiotherapy department online or via telephone and are triaged by a certified physiotherapist and are booked for an initial physiotherapy consultation. After triage, study information and the consent to participate, patients in the control group receive online data collection questionnaires identical to those of the intervention group at baseline and prior to the consultation, excluding the film and the questions linked to the film. The initial consultation will take place as usual according to the preferences of the physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will pose one question at start of the consultation to acknowledge the completion of control group questionnaires. Management subsequent to the initial consultation will follow usual management.