An observational study in Lateral Elbow Pain, Lateral Epicondylitis and Tennis Elbow, sponsored by Acibadem University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-23.
Sponsored by Acibadem University · Observational
This cross-sectional, correlational study aims to determine the predictors of illness perception and treatment expectations in adults with chronic lateral elbow pain. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical findings (pain intensity, pain duration, elbow-specific function) and psychosocial variables (pain self-efficacy, fear-avoidance beliefs, pain catastrophizing) will be examined as candidate predictors of two patient-centred constructs: illness perception, measured with the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and treatment expectation, measured with the Treatment Expectation Questionnaire. Data will be analysed using hierarchical multiple linear regression in three predictor blocks. The study is reported according to the STROBE statement.
Adults presenting with lateral elbow pain to a physiotherapy and rehabilitation outpatient unit in Istanbul, Turkey. Consecutive, non-probability sampling of eligible patients who consent to participate.
Exclusion Criteria:
Adults aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with lateral epicondylalgia or lateral elbow pain by an orthopaedic surgeon or physiatrist, with pain of at least 4 out of 10 on the Numeric Rating Scale lasting 12 weeks or longer. Participants complete a single battery of self-report questionnaires; no intervention is applied.
Illness perception (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, B-IPQ)
The B-IPQ is a 9-item self-report instrument assessing cognitive and emotional representations of illness. Eight items are rated on a 0 to 10 numeric scale covering consequences, timeline, personal control, treatment control, identity, concern, coherence and emotional representation; the ninth item is open-ended and asks about perceived causes. The total score ranges from 0 to 80, with higher scores indicating a more threatening perception of the illness.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Treatment expectation (Treatment Expectation Questionnaire, TEX-Q)
The TEX-Q assesses expectations of an upcoming treatment. Fifteen scored items are rated on an 11-point scale from 0 (no expectation at all) to 10 (expecting complete recovery from treatment); six additional items are not included in scoring. Higher scores indicate higher treatment expectation.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale, NRS)
Self-reported lateral elbow pain intensity rated from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Pain self-efficacy (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, PSEQ)
Ten items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (0 = not at all confident, 6 = completely confident), giving a total score of 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater confidence in performing activities despite pain.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Fear-avoidance beliefs (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, FABQ)
Sixteen items rated on a 7-point Likert scale from 0 (completely disagree) to 6 (completely agree), assessing beliefs about the effect of physical activity and work on pain. Higher scores indicate stronger fear-avoidance beliefs.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale, PCS)
Thirteen items with helplessness, magnification and rumination subscales, each rated from 0 (never) to 4 (all the time), giving a total score of 0 to 52. Higher scores indicate greater pain catastrophizing.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Elbow pain and function (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation, PRTEE)
Fifteen items covering pain (5 items) and function (6 specific activity items and 4 usual activity items) over the past week. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater pain and loss of function.
Time frame: Single assessment at enrollment (Day 1)
Plan to share: No
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Acibadem University