Targeting Pain Science Education With a Children’s Book: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study With a Sham Comparison

Joshua W. Pate; Laura E. Simons; Emily Moore; Jennifer Norton; Erin Turbitt; Arianne Verhagen; Verity Pacey

doi:10.1155/prm/7548771

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Targeting Pain Science Education With a Children’s Book: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study With a Sham Comparison

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Targeting Pain Science Education With a Children’s Book: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study With a Sham Comparison

Joshua W. Pate, Laura E. Simons, Emily Moore, Jennifer Norton, Erin Turbitt, Arianne Verhagen and Verity Pacey

Pain Research and Management, Vol.2025(1), pp.1-11

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/prm/7548771

PMID: 41234601

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Abstract

children’s books

conceptual change

pain science education

pediatrics

single case experimental design

Objectives To assess perceived changes in children’s understanding of the pain–damage relationship and the brain’s influence on pain following exposure to sham and pain science education (PSE) books. Methods A series of single-case experimental designs were replicated across 17 children (8–12 years), with and without chronic pain, over six weeks. Following baseline, participants received a sham book and then a PSE book. The Concept of Pain Inventory (COPI) (total and selected items) and qualitative interviews (child and interviewer) assessed conceptual change and book acceptability. Results COPI scores for three targeted items fluctuated but generally increased after the PSE book for both groups, suggesting improved understanding. Discrepancies between COPI responses and interview data occurred in 88% of children, indicating varied perspectives on the nature and extent of conceptual change. The PSE book was found to be acceptable and was preferred by most children. Discussion Children’s understanding of core pain science concepts can improve with targeted, book-based PSE. The dynamic nature of conceptual change and observed discrepancies between quantitative and qualitative assessment methods underscore the value of using multiple approaches to evaluate learning in pediatric PSE.

Details

Title: Targeting Pain Science Education With a Children’s Book: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED) Study With a Sham Comparison
Authors: Joshua W. Pate (Corresponding Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Laura E. Simons - Stanford University
Emily Moore - University of Technology Sydney
Jennifer Norton (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Erin Turbitt - University of Technology Sydney
Arianne Verhagen - University of Technology Sydney
Verity Pacey - Macquarie University
Publication details: Pain Research and Management, Vol.2025(1), pp.1-11
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1155/prm/7548771
ISSN: 1918-1523
PMID: 41234601
Copyright note: Copyright © 2025 Joshua W. Pate et al. Pain Research and Management published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Data Availability: Data underlying this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Grant note: This project was supported by the Graduate School of Health Seed Grants Program 2021 (University of Technology Sydney).
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Occupational Therapy; School of Health - Physiotherapy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246698702621
Output Type: Journal article

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