The primary aim of this study is to determine the clinical effectiveness of patient education alone in individuals with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain and to identify which patient subgroups benefit more from this approach. In addition, the translation and cultural adaptation of the "Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (PKQ-RCRSP)" into Turkish will be carried out to measure the level of patient knowledge regarding patient education.
Individuals aged 18-65 years
Shoulder pain persisting for at least 4 weeks
Diagnosed by an orthopedic physician with impingement, subacromial bursitis, rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy, or partial tear
Activity-related pain ≥3 on the NPRS
History of shoulder surgery
Diagnosis of frozen shoulder, full-thickness or massive rotator cuff (RC) tear, or instability
Presence of neurological or psychiatric conditions that prevent exercise
History of physical therapy-rehabilitation or injection treatment within the past 6 months
Single group
Questionnaire Validation
BehavioralDuring the Turkish adaptation of the PKQ-RCRSP questionnaire, written permission was obtained from the original developer. At least two experts independently translated the questionnaire into Turkish, and a single reconciled version was created. This version was back-translated by an independent translator to ensure semantic and conceptual equivalence. Revisions were made following expert panel review and pilot testing. For validation, the PKQ-RCRSP will be administered to participants at baseline (V0). One week later (V1), the questionnaire will be repeated, and participants will be asked if their shoulder problem or knowledge has significantly changed in the past week. Those answering "Yes," who do not return, or who receive any intervention will be excluded from the test-retest analysis. Results from participants answering "No" will complete the test-retest analysis, and all participants' data will be included in other validity analyses. This concludes the validation phase.
Patient Education
BehavioralParticipants in this arm will receive structured patient education sessions for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain. The program consists of two 30-minute face-to-face sessions delivered by a physiotherapist with at least 5 years of experience in orthopedic rehabilitation. Educational topics include disease information, symptom management, treatment options, reducing fear of movement, exercise promotion, pain and stress management, physical activity recommendations, nutrition advice, and lifestyle-specific guidance. Informational brochures will be provided after the first session. The second session, delivered two weeks later, focuses on reviewing progress and enhancing motivation; no new information will be provided.
Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Pain intensity assessed using the Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).
Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (PKQ-RCRSP)
Patient knowledge regarding rotator cuff-related shoulder pain assessed
Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
Shoulder pain and functional disability assessed using the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI).
Sociodemographic Characteristics
Sociodemographic characteristics including age, sex, education level, occupation, and other relevant demographic variables collected using a Sociodemographic Assessment Form.
Patient-Reported Global Change Assessed by the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRC)
Patient-perceived overall change in condition assessed using the Global Rating of Change Scale (GRC).
Illness Perceptions Assessed by the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ)
Patient perceptions of illness assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ).
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