Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum Pain

NCT07096661 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: 61318
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This Delphi study aims to establish expert consensus on the role, content, and delivery of pain science education (PSE) for labour and postpartum pain management. Despite the growing application of PSE in other populations, its use in maternity care remains underexplored. Through a three-round electronic Delphi survey, multidisciplinary experts-including physiotherapists, midwives, gynaecologists, pain specialists, nurses, and psychologists-will contribute their perspectives to guide the development of a structured PSE intervention for future clinical testing.

Conditions

Adults; Female; Labour Pain; Postpartum Pain; Chronic Pain

Keywords

Pain Neuroscience Education; PNE; Postpartum Pain; Natal Pain; Labor Pain; Delphi Study; persistent pain

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Expert Consensus on Content of Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum

  Expert consensus will be assessed using a structured three-round electronic Delphi survey. Survey items will ask participants to rate the importance or relevance of specific pain science education topics and components using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not important to 5 = essential). Consensus will be defined as ≥70% of participants rating an item as either 4 or 5. Quantitative agreement levels will be calculated per item in SPSS, and qualitative comments will be analysed in NVivo to support interpretation of ratings.

  Day 2

• Expert Consensus on Optimal Timing for Delivery of Pain Science Education

  Expert consensus on optimal time points for delivering pain science education will be assessed using a structured three-round electronic Delphi survey. Participants will rate each proposed timing option using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not appropriate to 5 = highly appropriate). Consensus will be defined as ≥70% of experts rating an item as 4 or 5. Quantitative data will be analysed using SPSS.

  Day 2

• Expert Consensus on Preferred Delivery Methods for Pain Science Education

  Expert agreement on preferred delivery formats for PSE (e.g., individual vs. group sessions, online vs. in-person, specific provider roles) will be assessed via a structured e-Delphi survey. Items will be rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = not feasible/effective to 5 = highly feasible/effective). Consensus will be defined as ≥70% of participants selecting 4 or 5. Quantitative data will be analysed in SPSS to determine consensus levels.

  Day 2

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Qualitative Insights into Implementation Feasibility and Barriers

  Day 3

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of 30 multidisciplinary experts recruited internationally, including physiotherapists, midwives, gynaecologists, pain management specialists, nurses, and psychologists. These participants will be selected using purposive sampling to ensure a diverse representation of professional backgrounds and experiences related to pain science education, pain management, and antenatal care.

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 years or older
• Ability to read and write in English
• Professional background as one of the following:
• Registered physiotherapist Registered midwife Gynaecologist Pain management specialist Nurses Psychologist

You may not qualify if:

• Inability to read or write in English
• Decline or fail to provide informed consent
• Under 18 years of age

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bournemouth University: lead
• Akdeniz University: collaborator
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel: collaborator
• McMaster University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Landsdowne Campus

Bournemouth, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Labor Pain; Chronic Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 14, 2025
• First Posted: July 31, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)