Effectiveness of an Educational Program for Pain Management in Patients With Hemophilic Arthropathy

Introduction: Hemophilic arthropathy is a common complication of hemophilia, characterized by chronic pain, functional limitation, and impaired quality of life. Cognitive-emotional factors such as catastrophizing and kinesiophobia significantly influence the pain experience, supporting the rationale for interventions grounded in the biopsychosocial model and pain neuroscience education. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of an educational program based on pain neurobiology, emotional regulation, and cognitive-behavioral strategies on the pain experience in adult patients with hemophilic arthropathy. Methods: A randomized, controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups (intervention and control) and three assessment time points (pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up) will be conducted. A total of 70 adult patients with hemophilia A or B and a diagnosis of hemophilic arthropathy with chronic pain will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will receive a structured educational program consisting of three 60-minute sessions focused on pain neurobiology, emotional regulation, cognitive restructuring, coping strategies, and physiological downregulation techniques, including supervised physical activity as an analgesic strategy. The control group will continue with usual care without additional educational intervention. The primary outcome will be pain intensity and pain interference, assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. Statistical analyses will be performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, with the Group × Time interaction considered the primary effect of interest, under the intention-to-treat principle. Expected Results: It is anticipated that the intervention group will demonstrate a statistically and clinically significant reduction in pain intensity and pain-related functional interference compared with the control group. A sustained clinical improvement at six months is also expected, supporting the u