Change in pain knowledge after a neuroscience education seminar for women with chronic pelvic pain

There are numerous studies demonstrating the positive effects of neuroscience education in the treatment of chronic pain, but none to date in women with chronic pelvic pain. This study aimed to measure the change in knowledge and perception of pain that occurred after a neuroscience education seminar specifically designed for women with chronic pelvic pain. Neuroscience education seminars were held in Adelaide and Sydney, led by physiotherapists with expertise in managing chronic pelvic pain. Participants were 25 women who completed the patient version of the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire and 21 of whom also answered three open-ended questions before and immediately after the seminar. The answers to the open-ended questions were analysed using the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes taxonomy. This study showed a statistically significant improvement in pain knowledge on the Neurophysiology of Pain Questionnaire from a mean (SD) score of 61.3 (15) to 80.0 (11) (p < 0.001), and 38% of participants demonstrated improved depth-of-knowledge according to analysis of the open-ended questions. (p=0.02). These results suggest that women with chronic pelvic pain may benefit from neuroscience education as part of their management.