Table 5 Participants’ agreement with statements deemed true, false or equivocal by the research team
Statements where participants disagreed with the research team | Statements where participants’ responses were unsure | Statements deemed equivocal by the research team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Statement | Research team’s response | Participants’ response | Statement | Research team’s response | Statement | Research team’s answer | Participants’ answer |
Pain may mean something is out of place | False, Med | 76.0% True | Most pain gets better | True, N | Persistent pain means that an injury hasn’t healed properly | Med | Unsure |
When I have pain I think to myself “don’t make such a fuss” | False, N | 77.0% True | More pain means more tissue damage (i.e., damage to joints, nerves, tendons or muscles) | False, Med | An increase in pain is an indication that you should stop doing what you’re doing until the pain decreases | Med | Unsure |
It is important to seek treatments (medications, injections, surgery, hands-on treatments) from professionals to get pain relief | False, N | 61.0% True | Findings on scans like arthritis and disc bulges are always associated with pain | False, Med | It is important to rest when you have pain | Med | Unsure |
Surgery should only be considered as a final option when other treatments have not worked | False, Med | 76.7% True | Tests like MRI scans, x-rays and ultrasound imaging are critical to identify the source of pain | False, Med | It is important to seek professional advice for pain care | N | 71.7% True |
It is always important to maintain good alignment when exercising, especially if you have pain | False, Med | 85.8% True | The source of pain must always be identified for adequate pain treatment to occur | False, Med | You should be very careful exercising when you have pain | Med | 90.2% True |
Future episodes of pain can be reduced or avoided by avoiding aggravating activities | False, Med | 77.2% True | When I have pain I carry on doing what I’m doing no matter what | False, N | Understanding how pain works is an effective pain treatment | N | 63.9% True |
Influencing factor: Muscle tightness | False, Med | 80.8% True | Stretching is always an effective exercise for pain | False, Med | I am usually willing to change my habits and behaviours to improve my health and pain care | BPS | 88.0% True |
Influencing factor: Social support | True, BPS | 28.7% True | Good core stability is key to managing pain | False, Med | Future episodes of pain can be reduced or avoided by addressing lifestyle factors like sleep, weight and stress | BPS | 80.1% True |
Influencing factor: Culture | True, BPS | 23.4% True | Good advice can be sufficient pain care | True, N | Influential factor? Posture and alignment (e.g., spinal posture, leg alignment, foot posture) | Med | 91.5% True |
Influencing factor: Sex/Gender | True, Med | 18.2% True | Physical therapies (physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic) should always include ‘hands-on’ treatments for pain relief | False, Med | Influential factor? Ergonomics (e.g., work set up and practices) | Med | 66.7% True |
Influencing factor: Education level | True, BPS | 10.4% True | Future episodes of pain can be reduced or avoided through exercise | True, N | |||
Future episodes of pain can be reduced or avoided by getting regular ‘hands-on’ treatments like massage or manipulation | False, Med | ||||||
Future episodes of pain cannot be avoided | True, N | ||||||
Influencing factor: Beliefs about injury and tissue damage | True, BPS | ||||||
Influencing factor: How you think about pain | True, BPS | ||||||
Influencing factor: Access to appropriate healthcare | True, N | ||||||
Influencing factor: Alcohol or drug use | True, Med | ||||||
Influencing factor: Genetics | True, Med | ||||||