Episode 8: Understanding pain and concepts of pain with Brian Pulling

Pain Matters Episode 8 features hosts Lorimer Moseley and Bart van Buchem interviewing their guest, Brian Pulling. Brian, an American researcher finishing his PhD, shares insights into a research project focused on understanding how individuals think about pain, specifically in the context of osteoarthritis. The episode delves into the development of a questionnaire to explore people's conceptualizations of osteoarthritis pain. Brian emphasizes the importance of face validity in questionnaire development and shares insights from cognitive interviews, highlighting diverse perspectives on pain. The conversation, hosted by Lorimer Moseley and Bart van Buchem, provides valuable insights into the complexities of understanding and measuring pain experiences.

Brian Pulling is a PhD candidate in health science in the Persistent Pain Research Group at the University of South Australia with a focus on educational theory and innovative psychometrics. His research aims to improve treatments for persistent pain by giving researchers and clinicians more comprehensive assessment tools to understand how people think about their own health. His work uses complex data models such as network analysis. Brian's most recent publication is available here, and presents the first of several phases in the development of a new questionnaire about how people conceptualise osteoarthritis [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286114]. You can get in touch with Brian at brianwpulling@gmail.com