Expert Perspectives on Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum Pain: A Delphi Study
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- Enrolling By Invitation
- 入组人数
- 30
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Expert Consensus on Content of Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum
研究概览
简要总结
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.
详细描述
Labour pain is a critical and complex experience that can significantly influence both immediate and long-term maternal outcomes. Although antenatal education often addresses pain minimally or inconsistently, pain science education (PSE)-which reconceptualizes pain as a biopsychosocial phenomenon-has demonstrated benefits in other clinical contexts, such as chronic pain and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. PSE may reduce fear, enhance coping strategies, and support physiological birth outcomes. However, its integration into maternity care, particularly during labour and postpartum periods, has yet to be defined.
This study employs a three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) methodology to gain consensus on the use of PSE in this context. The Delphi method is ideal for topics where empirical evidence is limited but expert opinion is available. Guided by established best practices including the CREDES (Guidance on Conducting and REporting DElphi Studies) this study ensures methodological rigour and transparency.
Multidisciplinary experts will be purposively recruited internationally via professional networks and social media platforms. To participate, experts must be English-speaking adults with relevant clinical experience or academic contributions in PSE, pain management, or antenatal education. The study will include physiotherapists, midwives, gynaecologists, psychologists, nurses, and pain specialists. Participants will be provided with detailed study information and will give informed consent electronically.
The Delphi process will be conducted in three iterative rounds, allowing experts to respond anonymously to survey items, review aggregate group feedback, and refine their views. This method aims to identify convergence in expert perspectives and clarify the key components of a future PSE intervention for labour and postpartum care. Data will be analysed using NVivo for qualitative responses and SPSS for quantitative analysis.
The outcome of this study will inform the development of a clearly defined, evidence-informed PSE intervention to be tested in future clinical trials. It represents an important step toward improving antenatal education and enhancing pain management during and after childbirth.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Other
- 时间视角
- Cross Sectional
入排标准
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •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
排除标准
- •Inability to read or write in English
- •Lack of relevant professional background or clinical experience as outlined in the inclusion criteria
- •Decline or fail to provide informed consent
- •Under 18 years of age
结局指标
主要结局
Expert Consensus on Content of Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum
时间窗: Day 2
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.
Expert Consensus on Optimal Timing for Delivery of Pain Science Education
时间窗: Day 2
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.
Expert Consensus on Preferred Delivery Methods for Pain Science Education
时间窗: Day 2
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.
Expert Consensus on Content of Pain Science Education for Labour and Postpartum
时间窗: Day 2
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.
Expert Consensus on Optimal Timing for Delivery of Pain Science Education
时间窗: Day 2
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.
Expert Consensus on Preferred Delivery Methods for Pain Science Education
时间窗: Day 2
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.
次要结局
- Qualitative Insights into Implementation Feasibility and Barriers(Day 3)
- Qualitative Insights into Implementation Feasibility and Barriers(Day 3)
研究者
Omer Elma
Lecturer
Bournemouth University