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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06282757

Physiotherapists' Placebo or Nocebo Communication Regarding VR in CMP

Rationale: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a common and disabling condition. Physiotherapy is the most frequently administered non-pharmacological treatment option for patients with CMP and recently virtual reality (VR) was introduced in physiotherapy care as a novel treatment modality. Proper communication about physiotherapy treatment (modalities) is important to improve treatment outcomes, by applying placebo effects enhancing communication and avoiding nocebo effects enhancing communication. However, yet is still unknown to what extent this applies to communication of physiotherapists about VR in patients with CMP.

Objective: To determine the effect of physiotherapists' placebo or nocebo therapeutic communication about VR, on treatment credibility and expectation in patients with CMP

Study design: Web-based randomized controlled trial.

Study population: 100 participants

Intervention: The placebo intervention group will be shown an educational video about VR, containing placebo effects enhancing verbal language. The nocebo intervention group will be shown an educational video about VR, containing nocebo effects enhancing verbal language.

Primary study parameters: The primary study parameters are treatment credibility and treatment expectation. Treatment credibility and treatment expectations will be measured using the Dutch credibility and expectancy questionnaire (CEQ).

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Key information

Conditions

Communication Behavior Chronic Pain Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

HAN University of Applied Sciences

Nijmegen, Overijssel, 6525EN, Netherlands

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • aged ≥ 18
  • access to the internet
  • provide informed consent
  • suffers from CMP

Exclusion criteria

  • lacked comprehension of the Dutch language
  • had experience with therapeutic VR

Treatment and study plan

Video placebo communication

Other

The placebo communication video comprises of an educational VR video containing placebo enhancing verbal language.

Video nocebo communication

Other

The nocebo communication video comprises of an educational VR video containing nocebo stimulating verbal language.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in treatment expectancy measured using the Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention

    This questionnaire on treatment expectancy scores from 6 (lowest expectancy) to 54 (highest expectancy)

  2. Change in treatment credibility measured using the Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ)

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention

    This questionnaire on treatment credibility scores from 5 (lowest credibility) to 45 (highest credibility)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in openness to VR measured using a single question

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention

    The question "would you be open to treatment with therapeutic VR" was scored with a yes/no

  2. Change in pain intensity measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)

    Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention

    This questionnaire on pain intensity scores from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximal pain)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

HAN University of Applied Sciences

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Physiotherapists' Placebo or Nocebo Communication About Virtual Reality on Treatment Beliefs in Patients With CMP

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 28, 2024
Registry last updated
Sep 16, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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