Illness Perception and Treatment Expectations in Lateral Elbow Pain

NCT07722845 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: AcibademHG1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 137
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This cross-sectional, correlational study aims to determine the predictors of illness perception and treatment expectations in adults with chronic lateral elbow pain. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical findings (pain intensity, pain duration, elbow-specific function) and psychosocial variables (pain self-efficacy, fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing) will be examined as candidate predictors of two patient-centred constructs: illness perception, measured with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and treatment expectation, measured with the Treatment Expectation Questionnaire. Data will be analysed using hierarchical multiple linear regression in three predictor blocks. The study is reported according to the STROBE statement.

Conditions

Lateral Elbow Pain; Lateral Epicondylitis; Tennis Elbow; Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain; Tendinopathy

Keywords

Illness perception; Treatment expectation; Lateral epicondylalgia; Pain catastrophizing; Fear-avoidance beliefs; Pain self-efficacy; Biopsychosocial model; Hierarchical regression

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Illness perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, B-IPQ)

  The B-IPQ is a 9-item self-report instrument assessing cognitive and emotional representations of illness. Eight items are rated on a 0 to 10 numeric scale covering consequences, timeline, personal control, treatment control, identity, concern, coherence and emotional representation; the ninth item is open-ended and asks about perceived causes. The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating a more threatening perception of the illness.

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

• Treatment expectation (Treatment Expectation Questionnaire, TEX-Q)

  The TEX-Q assesses expectations of an upcoming treatment. Fifteen scored items are rated on an 11-point scale from 0 (no expectation at all) to 10 (expecting complete recovery from treatment); six additional items are not included in scoring. Higher scores indicate higher treatment expectation.

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

• Pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, PSEQ)

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

• Fear-avoidance beliefs (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, FABQ)

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

• Pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS)

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

• Elbow pain and function (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation, PRTEE)

  Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)

Study Arms (1)

Adults with chronic lateral elbow pain

Adults aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with lateral epicondylalgia or lateral elbow pain by an orthopaedic surgeon or physiatrist, with pain of at least 4 out of 10 on the Numeric Rating Scale lasting 12 weeks or longer. Participants complete a single battery of self-report questionnaires; no intervention is applied.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults presenting with lateral elbow pain to a physiotherapy and rehabilitation outpatient unit in Istanbul, Turkey. Consecutive, non-probability sampling of eligible patients who consent to participate.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 years or older
• Diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia or lateral elbow pain made by an orthopaedic surgeon or physiatrist
• Pain intensity of at least 4 on the Numeric Rating Scale
• Pain duration of at least 12 weeks (chronic)
• Willing to provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of any surgical procedure of the upper extremity
• Cervical spine pathology
• Inflammatory arthritis affecting the wrist or finger joints (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
• Active neurological disease or radiculopathy radiating to the upper extremity
• Diagnosis of fibromyalgia or another widespread pain syndrome
• Currently receiving active psychiatric treatment (e.g. psychosis, severe depression)
• Pregnancy
• Visual or cognitive impairment of a degree that would prevent completion of the questionnaires

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Acibadem University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Dr. Fzt. Fatih Celik Ozel Saglik Birimi

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tennis Elbow; Tendinopathy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Elbow Tendinopathy; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Elbow Injuries; Arm Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Tendon Injuries

Study Officials

• Hasan Gercek, PhD

  Acibadem University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hasan Gercek, PhD

CONTACT

+90 542 648 8455; hasan.gercek@acibadem.edu.tr

Nuray Alaca, PhD

CONTACT

+90 532 425 1290; nuray.alaca@acibadem.edu.tr

Study Design

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

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 20, 2026
• First Posted: July 23, 2026
• Study Start: July 31, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 5, 2027
• Last Updated: July 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)