JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Chronic pain is frequently reported in breast cancer patients (BCPs), negatively affecting their quality of life.

Objective:

We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a home care strategy combining computerized rehabilitation, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and remote telemonitoring via a web platform, in BCPs suffering for chronic pain.

Methods:

42 BCPs will be recruited and randomly divided into 3 treatment groups that will carry out tDCS only, exercise-therapy only or the combination of both, over a 3-weeks period. Using online questionnaires, the perception of pain (Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Brief Pain Inventory) and psychological variables (Hospital and Anxiety Depression Scale, 12-item Short Form Survey) will be assessed at baseline (T0), after 1 week (T1), at the end of treatment (T2), and after 1 (T3) and 3 months (T4). The system’s usability (Mobile Application Rating Scale, System Usability Scale) and the involvement in the decision-making process (Shared-Decision Making Questionnaire 9-Item) will be also evaluated.

Results:

The enrollment of patients affected by chronic pain is scheduled to start in June 2023 and it is expected to be completed by August 2025.

Conclusions:

We expect that the combination of tDCS and telehealth programs will reduce pain perceived by BCPs improving their mental well-being, more effectively than single interventions. Furthermore, we assume that this home-based approach will also improve patients’ participation in routinely clinical care, reducing disparities in accessing healthcare process. This integrated home care strategy could be useful for BCPs who cannot find relief from chronic pain with pharmacological treatments or for those who have limited access to care due to poor mobility or geographical barriers, increasing the patients’ empowerment and reducing healthcare costs.