Neck disorders, such as whiplash-associated disorders, are common, disabling and costly. A large proportion of direct health care costs associated with neck disorders is attributable to visits to health care providers, sick leave and the related loss of productive capacity.
Advice and education is commonly given during the treatment of neck pain. The most common educational approaches are advice (focused on rest, activation, or stress coping skills), neck school, or education concurrent with other treatments.
Electronic bibliographic databases were searched up to May 2008. Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 1660 participants) looking at the effectiveness of patient education strategies for neck disorders were included. Of the ten selected trials, two were rated as being of high quality. Participants who received advice to stay active reported little or no difference in pain compared to those who received no treatment, treatments focusing on rest, treatments focusing on exercise, physiotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. Additionally, stress management therapies, when compared to no treatment, did not seem to have an effect on pain intensity in patients with mechanical neck disorders. Finally, traditional neck school (psychological counselling, ergonomics, exercise, self-care, relaxation) does not seem to have an effect on pain when compared to no treatment.
No adverse events were reported in the trials.
In summary, the review authors concluded that there is no strong evidence for the effectiveness of educational interventions in various neck disorders.