Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Jan 4, 2021
Date Accepted: May 12, 2021
Development of a Smartphone Application for the treatment of older adults with chronic pain Ecological Monitoring and Management App for chronic pain in older Adults – EMMA: Protocol for the EMMA design and feasibility study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Chronic pain is a complex problem for many older adults that affects both physical functioning and psychological well-being. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have shown promise in supporting older persons in managing chronic conditions. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is recommended for older people with chronic pain. However, online treatment programs for chronic pain are not aimed at the needs of older people and offer standard therapies without providing tailored treatment for this population.
Objective:
To address this problem, we will develop a psychological internet-based intervention based on ecological monitoring of daily life experiences with chronic pain, called EMMA to support self-management of chronic pain in older adults.
Methods:
The key clinical and engagement features of the intervention were established through the integration of evidence-based material from cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of chronic pain in older adults. The development process uses a CoDesign approach and actively involves the end-users in the design process by incorporating feedback from focus groups with older adults in order to inform a user centered intervention design. For the CoDesign process, we will include 10 older adults with chronic pain that will discuss the requirements in workshops in order to ensure suitability for older adults with chronic pain. In order to test the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, we will include a sample of 30 older adults with chronic pain that will test all features of the intervention for a period of eight consecutive weeks. After the trial period, validated instruments to assess usability and acceptability, as well as influence on pain levels and associated physical and psychological symptoms will be filled out by the participants. Participants will be invited to take part in a semi-structured telephone interview after the trial period to explore their experiences using the app.
Results:
Required changes to assure usability and acceptability will afterwards directly implemented in the application.
Conclusions:
EMMA brings together a strong body of evidence using cognitive behavioral and self-management theory with contemporary mHealth principles, allowing for a cost-effective intervention irrespective of place and time to target chronic pain in older adults. Given the ubiquity of mHealth interventions for chronic conditions, the results of this study may serve to inform the development of tailored pain self-management interventions.
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