scholarly journals Patients’ Needs and Requirements for eHealth Pain Management Interventions: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Konstanse Ledel Solem ◽  
Cecilie Varsi ◽  
Hilde Eide ◽  
Olöf Birna Kristjansdottir ◽  
Jelena Mirkovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ehealth Intervention ◽  
Insight Into

BACKGROUND A growing body of evidence supports the potential effectiveness of electronic health (eHealth) interventions in managing chronic pain. However, research on the needs and preferences of patients with chronic pain in relation to eHealth interventions is scarce. Eliciting user input in the development of eHealth interventions may be a crucial step toward developing meaningful interventions for patients for potentially improving treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with chronic pain with regard to information and communication technology, understand how an eHealth intervention can support the everyday needs and challenges of patients with chronic pain, and identify possible facilitators and barriers for patients’ use of an eHealth pain management intervention. METHODS Twenty patients living with chronic pain and five spouses participated in individual interviews. Semistructured interview guides were used to explore participants’ needs, experiences, and challenges in daily life as well as their information and communication technology experiences and preferences for eHealth support interventions. Spouses were recruited and interviewed to gain additional insight into the patients’ needs. The study used qualitative thematic analysis. RESULTS The participants were generally experienced technology users and reported using apps regularly. They were mainly in favor of using an eHealth self-management intervention for chronic pain and considered it a potentially acceptable way of gathering knowledge and support for pain management. The participants expressed the need for obtaining more information and knowledge, establishing a better balance in everyday life, and receiving support for improving communication and social participation. They provided suggestions for the eHealth intervention content and functionality to address these needs. Accessibility, personalization, and usability were emphasized as important elements for an eHealth support tool. The participants described an ideal eHealth intervention as one that could be used for support and distraction from pain, at any time or in any situation, regardless of varying pain intensity and concentration capacity. CONCLUSIONS This study provides insight into user preferences for eHealth interventions aiming to address self-management for chronic pain. Participants highlighted important factors to be considered when designing and developing eHealth interventions for self-management of chronic pain, illustrating the importance and benefit of including users in the development of eHealth interventions. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03705104; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03705104.

An Innovative, Information and Communication Technology Supported Approach, Towards Effective Chronic Pain Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haridimos Kondylakis ◽  
Santiago Hors-Fraile ◽  
Lefteris Koumakis ◽  
Angelina Kouroubali ◽  
George Notas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Personal Health Record ◽  
Chronic Pain Management ◽  
Employment Relationships ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ict Tools ◽  
Specialized Health Care

Chronic pain is one of the most common health problems affecting daily activity, employment, relationships and emotional functioning. Unfortunately, the lack of specialized health care personnel, and the high heterogeneity in terms of clinical manifestation and treatment results contribute in failure to manage efficiently and effectively pain. Information and communication technology (ICT) can be a valuable tool, enabling patients and healthcare professional empowerment and better self-management of pain. To this direction, this article reports on the design of a novel technical infrastructure to support effectively and efficiently chronic pain management, based on an Intelligent Personal Health Record platform on top of already available ICT tools. The designed platform targets, among others, at improving the knowledge on the patient data, effectiveness and adherence to treatment and providing effective communication channels between patients and healthcare professionals.

An Innovative, Information and Communication Technology Supported Approach, Towards Effective Chronic Pain Management

2020 ◽  
pp. 125-145
Author(s):  
Haridimos Kondylakis ◽  
Santiago Hors-Fraile ◽  
Lefteris Koumakis ◽  
Angelina Kouroubali ◽  
George Notas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Personal Health Record ◽  
Chronic Pain Management ◽  
Employment Relationships ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ict Tools ◽  
Specialized Health Care

Chronic pain is one of the most common health problems affecting daily activity, employment, relationships and emotional functioning. Unfortunately, the lack of specialized health care personnel, and the high heterogeneity in terms of clinical manifestation and treatment results contribute in failure to manage efficiently and effectively pain. Information and communication technology (ICT) can be a valuable tool, enabling patients and healthcare professional empowerment and better self-management of pain. To this direction, this article reports on the design of a novel technical infrastructure to support effectively and efficiently chronic pain management, based on an Intelligent Personal Health Record platform on top of already available ICT tools. The designed platform targets, among others, at improving the knowledge on the patient data, effectiveness and adherence to treatment and providing effective communication channels between patients and healthcare professionals.

scholarly journals Using information and communication technologies to improve the management of pain from advanced cancer in the community: Qualitative study of the experience of implementation for patients and health professionals in a trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 2435-2445
Author(s):  
Julia Hackett ◽  
Matthew J Allsop ◽  
Sally Taylor ◽  
Michael I Bennett ◽  
Bridgette M Bewick
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Information And Communication Technology ◽  
Communication Technology ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Technology System ◽  
Information And Communication

In cancer care, there are emerging information and communication technology systems being developed, enabling real-time information sharing between patients and health professionals. This study explored health professionals’ and patients’ perceptions of their engagement with an information and communication technology system for pain management to understand the mechanisms that could support implementation into routine palliative care practice. This was a qualitative study, embedded within a randomised control trial, using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The role of health professionals was a key component to patient engagement with the information and communication technology system. Where patients engaged with the information and communication technology system, both patients and health professionals reported benefits to system use in addition to usual care. Implementation issues were identified that can be used to guide future system development to support pain management in the context of routine clinical care in palliative care services. Where interventions are dependent on multiple providers, collaborative working and consideration of the context within which they are set are needed.

scholarly journals Health care providers’ experiences of pain management and attitudes towards digitally supported self-management interventions for chronic pain: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilie Varsi ◽  
Ingrid Konstanse Ledel Solem ◽  
Hilde Eide ◽  
Elin Børøsund ◽  
Olöf B. Kristjansdottir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Management Interventions

Abstract Background Chronic pain constitutes a significant burden for the individuals affected, and is a frequent reason why patients seek health care services. While in-person psychosocial interventions can be of support to people living with chronic pain, such interventions are not always accessible. eHealth interventions may provide greater accessibility, but the evidence and use of digital self-management solutions for chronic pain are still limited and the lack of health care provider input in the development process of such solutions a concern. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate health care providers’ experiences of treating patients with chronic pain, their attitudes towards, and use of, digital solutions in pain management, and their suggestions for content and design elements for a potential digital pain self-management intervention. Methods Twelve health care providers representing a variety of health care disciplines participated in semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results The material was analyzed into three main themes: [1] Patients with chronic pain and their current use of the health care services, [2] Health care providers’ own motivation and impression of patient prerequisites for use of digital self-management interventions, and [3] Suggestions for content and design elements in a digital self-management intervention for people living with chronic pain. The challenges faced by patients living with chronic pain were described as numerous. Despite interest and positive attitudes, few of the health care providers had used or recommended eHealth solutions to their patients. A range of potential content and functionality elements were identified, including aspects of motivation and engagement and providers also emphasized the importance of easy access and positive, personal content to support existing treatment. Conclusions This study offers insights into health care providers’ considerations for the potential of digital self-management interventions supporting patients living with chronic pain. Findings indicate the need for change and a more comprehensive treatment approach to pain management. eHealth solutions may contribute to such change, and providers pointed to a need for health care provider involvement, timely support and follow-up as important factors for integrating digital pain self-management interventions into clinical care. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03705104

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document