Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Jan 22, 2026
Date Accepted: Jul 8, 2026
Efficacy of a Remote Person-centred Intervention Using an eHealth Platform and Telephone Support for Persons with Chronic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
ABSTRACT
Background:
Chronic pain is a growing global public health challenge, and the leading cause of years lived with disability. It significantly impacts various aspects of life, including participation in working life. Person-centred care (PCC) has been shown in other studies to improve self-efficacy and facilitate return to work. However, the efficacy of PCC in persons on sick leave due to chronic pain remains largely unexplored.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of a person-centred intervention at home, consisting of a combined telephone support and eHealth platform, in persons on sick leave due to chronic pain.
Methods:
A two-armed, non-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted. Both groups received usual care; the intervention group additionally participated in a PCC intervention via telephone and an eHealth platform. The primary outcome was a composite score consisting of change in general self-efficacy and self-reported sick leave at 6-month follow-up.
Results:
A total of 59 participants were randomized to the intervention (n=29) and control group (n=30). More participants in the control group (n=11, 38.7%) than in the intervention group (n=3, 10.3%) showed deterioration, resulting in a significant difference in the composite score between the groups at the 6-month follow-up (P=.037) favouring the intervention.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that PCC via telephone and an eHealth platform may influence the sick leave level and self-efficacy in persons with chronic pain. Since the control group deteriorated while the intervention group largely remained unchanged, PCC may play a protective role in supporting persons with chronic pain in returning to work. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings. Clinical Trial: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04706195, submitted 2021-01-09. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04706195?term=eaper&rank=
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