The Effect of Pain Education on Chiropractic Students' Understanding of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide affecting just under 28 million people in the UK. Chronic pain conditions require a biopsychosocial rather than a biomedical model of care. Biomedical management lacks evidence of effectiveness but also has the potential to exacerbate the condition by raising fears and anxiety about potential pathological abnormalities. Thus, the pre-registration phase is an important point where an individual's understanding of, and beliefs about, pain and people with pain may be shaped for the future. The need for improved and better education of healthcare professionals to support best practice for low back pain with the aim of integrating professionals' management of low back pain and fostering innovation in practice is well recognised. Pain education research with pre-registration chiropractors is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to: To compare the effect of two pain education intervention, through a multi-site randomised control trial, on the following three questionnaire based outcome measures: 1. Knowledge (understanding) of chronic pain 2. Attitudes towards chronic pain patients 3. Pain management behaviours