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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research

Date Submitted: Feb 23, 2024
Date Accepted: Sep 25, 2024

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

Applying Patient and Health Professional Preferences in Co-Designing a Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Prescription Opioid–Related Harm Among Patients With Chronic Noncancer Pain: Qualitative Analysis

Elphinston RA, Pager S, Fatehi F, Sterling M, Brown K, Gray P, Hipper L, Cahill L, Ziadni M, Worthy P, Connor JP

Applying Patient and Health Professional Preferences in Co-Designing a Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Prescription Opioid–Related Harm Among Patients With Chronic Noncancer Pain: Qualitative Analysis

JMIR Form Res 2025;9:e57212

DOI: 10.2196/57212

PMID: 40279636

PMCID: 12064972

Applying Patient and Health Professional Preferences as part of Co-designing a New Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce Risk of Prescription Opioid Harm: A Qualitative Analysis

  • Rachel A. Elphinston; 
  • Sue Pager; 
  • Farhad Fatehi; 
  • Michele Sterling; 
  • Kelly Brown; 
  • Paul Gray; 
  • Linda Hipper; 
  • Lauren Cahill; 
  • Maisa Ziadni; 
  • Peter Worthy; 
  • Jason P. Connor

ABSTRACT

Background:

Few personalized, behavioral treatments are available to reduce opioid-related harm for patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP).

Objective:

We report on the second co-design phase of a digital brief intervention (BI) based on patient and health professional preferences.

Methods:

Eligible patients with CNCP (N = 18; 10 females; Mage = 49.5) from public hospital waitlists and health professionals (N = 5; 2 females; Mage = 40.2) from pain and addiction clinics completed semi-structured phone interviews or focus groups exploring on BI preferences, needs, and implementation considerations. Grounded theory was used to thematically analyse data.

Results:

From patient reports, nine suggestions related intervention content were identified: Non-pharmacological pain treatments; Personalized medication plan; Opioid use reflection and education; Biopsychosocial pain knowledge; Pain psychology education; Holistic assessment and feedback; Broader person-centered goals; Happiness and comfort goals; Varied coping skills options. Six patient suggestions related to the process and guiding principles: Therapist-guided; Engaging features; Compassionate, responsive, person-centered care; Digital solution maximizing reach; Educate and normalize system/policy challenges; Intervention engagement across settings. Finally, five themes were reflected in health professional reports: Digital health use rare but desired; Digital health useful for patient monitoring/accessing support; Patient motivation important; Digital BI app likely beneficial and at multiple care points; Safe medications use/managing pain goals. Reported barriers from health professionals were intervention intensity, potential costs, and patient responsiveness.

Conclusions:

Digital BIs are highly desired by patients with CNCP and health professionals. This co-design study identified key content areas, principles, enablers and barriers to guide development of such programs.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Elphinston RA, Pager S, Fatehi F, Sterling M, Brown K, Gray P, Hipper L, Cahill L, Ziadni M, Worthy P, Connor JP

Applying Patient and Health Professional Preferences in Co-Designing a Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Prescription Opioid–Related Harm Among Patients With Chronic Noncancer Pain: Qualitative Analysis

JMIR Form Res 2025;9:e57212

DOI: 10.2196/57212

PMID: 40279636

PMCID: 12064972

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