Pilot study on the effects of a culturally-sensitive and standard pain neuroscience education for Hausa-speaking patients with chronic neck pain

Abstract

Purpose

To pilot feasibility and assess preliminary effectiveness of standard and culture-sensitive Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) among Hausa-speaking patients with Chronic Neck Pain (CNP).

Methods

Adverts (online & clinic-based) were used to recruit Hausa-speaking patients with nonspecific CNP in Kano, Nigeria. Selected participants were randomized to culture-sensitive PNE (CSPNE), standard PNE (PNE), or control groups. Each group received bi-weekly sessions of exercise therapy for 6 weeks. Two sessions of PNE plus a home-based session were administered before exercise therapy in the PNE groups. Primary (pain-intensity and disability) and secondary (pain-knowledge, pain catastrophizing, and quality of life) outcomes were measured. The study was pre-registered (PACTR201902788269426).

Results

Fifty-three (out of 64) participants met the inclusion criteria. The majority of them were recruited through radio adverts (83%). Interventions were successfully administered and data collection was completed for the participants. About 15% and 17% drop-out rate was recorded before intervention (post-randomization) and during follow-up, respectively. Main results indicated that significant within-group improvements in disability and pain knowledge scores were found in favor of the PNE groups.

Conclusion

Culture-sensitive and standard PNE plus exercise therapy are feasible for Hausa patients with CNP, and current findings indicate support for reducing disability and increasing pain knowledge among them.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Both standard PNE and culture-sensitive PNE are feasible for administration as interventions for Hausa-speaking patients with CNP.

• Radio adverts may be necessary for patients recruitment in addition to specialists’ referrals.

• Culturally sensitive PNE materials may be more desirable as an intervention option due to the low literacy level among the Hausa population.

Keywords:

• Pain neuroscience education
• culturally-sensitive
• Hausa
• chronic neck pain
• effects

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the patients that participated in the study, the specialists that conducted the screening procedures, and to the research assistants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.