JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Pain is prevalent in adults 65 years of age and older and is poorly managed in this population. Although pain self-management strategies are helpful, adoption and access are limited, thus technology provides an opportunity of intervention delivery. Mobile health has grown in popularity and has shown as feasible to assist with pain management in older adults. We have yet to understand the impact of mHealth delivery of pain self-management interventions on pain outcomes in older adults with musculoskeletal pain.

Objective:

The purpose of this scoping review is to examine the evidence related to the impact of mHealth delivered pain self-management interventions on pain outcomes in older adults. The research questions were: What are the characteristics of the mHealth pain interventions that have been used in older adults? What is the impact of mHealth interventions on pain outcomes in older adults based on the evidence?

Methods:

With the assistance of a medical librarian, keywords and subject headings were used to search for articles in journal databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and IEE Explore. Articles were screened according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and reference lists were reviewed for additional article inclusion. Methodology of articles was appraised by three authors independently, then collaboratively to synthesize the evidence reported in each article.

Results:

Six publications were included in the scoping review. The studies’ methodology ranged widely, from pilot to a comparative effectiveness trial. Participants in the studies reported a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Delivery of the mHealth pain self-management interventions mostly incorporated mobile devices, such as a smartphone or tablet. Interventions incorporated multicomponent self-management strategies. Although studies suggested that pain intensity decreased, other pain-related conditions did not have a statistically significant reduction.

Conclusions:

It remains unclear if mHealth self-management interventions have an impact on pain outcomes in older adults. Most of the body of evidence has focused on usability, acceptance, and design. The relatively low number of intervention studies that measured pain and pain-related conditions vary. Therefore, further research on the impact of mHealth self-management interventions on pain outcomes among older adults is warranted. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate intervention adoption, chronic pain outcomes, and rates of abandonment. The findings in this review offer an initial glimpse into the direction that mHealth interventions are heading regarding pain management in older adults. Our review may inform future research that aims to test mHealth self-management interventions and stakeholders who may design and implement these mHealth interventions.