Impact of a Pain Neuroscience Education Program on Primary Students with and Without Intellectual Disabilities

Satisfaction and Knowledge Acquisition Following a Pain Neuroscience Education Program in Primary Students with and Without Intellectual Disabilities

This observational study evaluates the impact of a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program on primary school students in Extremadura, Spain. The study examines satisfaction levels and knowledge acquisition regarding pain neuroscience among students with and without intellectual disabilities. Conducted across both rural and urban educational centers, as well as special and regular education schools, this study aims to identify the effectiveness of PNE in enhancing pain-related knowledge and addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) awareness. Additionally, the program includes interactive educational activities tailored for accessibility, using resources such as easy-to-read questionnaires and hands-on models, to support inclusive health education. Data collection involves pre- and post-intervention questionnaires to assess satisfaction and knowledge gains, with statistical analysis exploring differences between demographic and school-type groups.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Pain (back / Neck)
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education Program (PNE)

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 413

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Badajoz, Spain, 06006
    • Universidad de Extremadura

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of fifth and sixth grade primary school students enrolled in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, Spain. The participants include students from both regular and special education schools, encompassing both urban and rural areas. The sample represents a diverse group with variations in intellectual abilities, aiming to assess the impact of a neuroscience education program on understanding pain and promoting health knowledge.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Students enrolled in the fifth or sixth grade of primary education in schools within the Autonomous Community of Extremadura.
• Students who regularly attend academic activities and complete the educational intervention.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Students who do not attend school regularly or who are not expected to complete the intervention.
• Students with severe cognitive or behavioral impairments that may interfere with participation in the educational activities.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

4

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Students in Rural Public Schools; This group consists of primary school students from rural public schools in Extremadura, Spain, participating in a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program.	Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education Program (PNE); The Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) Program is a structured educational intervention aimed at primary school students with and without intellectual disabilities. This program introduces students to basic concepts of pain neuroscience, designed to increase understanding of pain mechanisms and promote healthy pain coping strategies. The intervention was adapted to 'easy reading' format to ensure accessibility for students with intellectual disabilities, and was delivered in both rural and urban school settings in Extremadura, Spain.
Students in Urban Public Schools; This group includes primary school students from urban public schools in Extremadura, Spain, who participated in a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program.	Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education Program (PNE); The Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) Program is a structured educational intervention aimed at primary school students with and without intellectual disabilities. This program introduces students to basic concepts of pain neuroscience, designed to increase understanding of pain mechanisms and promote healthy pain coping strategies. The intervention was adapted to 'easy reading' format to ensure accessibility for students with intellectual disabilities, and was delivered in both rural and urban school settings in Extremadura, Spain.
Students in Special Education Schools; This group consists of students from special education schools in Extremadura, Spain, who have intellectual disabilities. These students participated in the Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program, with the goal of understanding program effectiveness in an inclusive educational environment tailored to students with intellectual disabilities.	Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education Program (PNE); The Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) Program is a structured educational intervention aimed at primary school students with and without intellectual disabilities. This program introduces students to basic concepts of pain neuroscience, designed to increase understanding of pain mechanisms and promote healthy pain coping strategies. The intervention was adapted to 'easy reading' format to ensure accessibility for students with intellectual disabilities, and was delivered in both rural and urban school settings in Extremadura, Spain.
Students in Regular Education Schools; This cohort includes primary school students from regular education schools in Extremadura, Spain, without intellectual disabilities. These students participated in the Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program, providing insights into the program's impact on general education settings and comparing outcomes with other cohorts.	Behavioral: Pain Neuroscience Education Program (PNE); The Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) Program is a structured educational intervention aimed at primary school students with and without intellectual disabilities. This program introduces students to basic concepts of pain neuroscience, designed to increase understanding of pain mechanisms and promote healthy pain coping strategies. The intervention was adapted to 'easy reading' format to ensure accessibility for students with intellectual disabilities, and was delivered in both rural and urban school settings in Extremadura, Spain.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Satisfaction Level and Knowledge Acquisition in Pain Neuroscience Education	This study measures the level of satisfaction and the knowledge acquired by primary school students with and without intellectual disabilities following participation in a Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) program. Satisfaction and knowledge are assessed through a structured questionnaire, focusing on three main dimensions: training activity, teacher's role, and understanding of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health. The responses are analyzed to evaluate the program's impact across different educational settings, including rural vs. urban and special vs. regular education	Immediately after completion of the educational intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Extremadura
• Investigators: Study Director: Luis Espejo-Antúnez, Ph.D., University of Extremadura

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): June 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 28, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 28, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): October 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 7, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Neuroscience; Health Education; Students; Pain Management
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Chronic Pain; Intellectual Disability
• Other Study ID Numbers: 06

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No