Pain Neuroscience Education to Support Birth: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

Sinead Dufour, Suzanne Dickie, Rebecca Grubb, Victoria Jelilyan, Jennifer Spreckley, Alexandra Young

Purpose: This study explored the impact of a novel one-time workshop, aimed to empower women throughout their birth experience through the use of pain neuroscience education concepts.

Methods: A pre-post cohort study design involving a 90-minute workshop with pregnant women in their third trimester. Education related to physiologic birth principles with an emphasis on pain neuroscience education and recent associated best practice guidelines represented the focus of the workshop. In addition to the collection of feasibility data outcomes were measured pre and post workshop as well as within the first 6 weeks post-partum.

Results: A one-time workshop that focused on pain neuroscience education was feasible. All participants used pain modulating strategies based on the workshop content and 92% of participants reported they would recommend the workshop. Further the workshop and had a positive effect on outcomes. Specifically, significant improvements for selfefficacy were found post-workshop.

Conclusion: Pain neuroscience education appears to be feasible to delivered in a one-time workshop format and appears to have the potential improve birth outcomes. Future to be delivered fully powered trials are required to adequately test and confirm these preliminary findings.

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