Education about pain and experience with cognitive-based interventions do not reduce healthcare professionals' chronic pain.
PeerJ January 1, 2025 Asaf Weisman, Tomer Yona, Youssef Masharawi 4 citations
Healthcare professionals with chronic pain, despite specialized knowledge of pain neuroscience and experience with cognitive-based interventions like pain neuroscience education, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, and mindfulness, did not report lower pain intensity than other groups. Pain intensity scores were similar between those with primary chronic pain (4.24) and secondary chronic pain (4.37). Quality of life was initially lower in professionals with chronic pain compared to healthy colleagues, but this difference disappeared after accounting for familiarity with interventions. Among healthy professionals who had recovered from chronic pain, only 11% attributed recovery to cognitive-based interventions, while most credited physical therapy (37.7%) or spontaneous recovery (32.9%). These results challenge theoretical models that cognitive engagement with pain concepts reduces pain intensity.