protocolSection identificationModule nctId: NCT06282757, orgStudyIdInfo id: 202302, briefTitle: Physiotherapists' Placebo or Nocebo Communication Regarding VR in CMP, statusModule overallStatus: NOT_YET_RECRUITING, startDateStruct date: 2024-04-01, primaryCompletionDateStruct date: 2024-05-01, completionDateStruct date: 2024-05-01, studyFirstPostDateStruct date: 2024-02-28, lastUpdatePostDateStruct date: 2024-03-07, sponsorCollaboratorsModule leadSponsor name: HAN University of Applied Sciences, class: OTHER, descriptionModule briefSummary: 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 CMPStudy design: Web-based randomized controlled trial.Study population: 100 participantsIntervention: 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)., conditionsModule conditions: Communication, conditions: Chronic Pain, designModule studyType: INTERVENTIONAL, phases: NA, designInfo allocation: RANDOMIZED, interventionModel: PARALLEL, primaryPurpose: OTHER, maskingInfo masking: TRIPLE, whoMasked: PARTICIPANT, whoMasked: INVESTIGATOR, whoMasked: OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR, enrollmentInfo count: 100, type: ESTIMATED, armsInterventionsModule interventions name: Video placebo communication, interventions name: Video nocebo communication, outcomesModule primaryOutcomes measure: Change in treatment expectancy measured using the Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), primaryOutcomes measure: Change in treatment credibility measured using the Credibility and Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ), secondaryOutcomes measure: Change in openness to VR measured using a single question, secondaryOutcomes measure: Change in pain intensity measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), eligibilityModule sex: ALL, minimumAge: 18 Years, stdAges: ADULT, stdAges: OLDER_ADULT, contactsLocationsModule locations facility: HAN University of Applied Sciences, city: Nijmegen, state: Overijssel, zip: 6525EN, country: Netherlands, contacts name: Syl Slatman, MSc, role: CONTACT, phone: +31629684200, email: syl.slatman@han.nl, geoPoint lat: 51.8425, lon: 5.85278, hasResults: False