Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain
Background Until recently, treatments for chronic pain commonly relied on in-person interventions, and despite more hybrid care options today, capacity for delivery remains challenged. Digital programs focusing on the psychosocial aspects of pain may provide low-barrier alternatives.Aims Through a r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Pain |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352399 |
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| author | Cynthia J. Thomson Hanna Pahl Luisa V. Giles |
| author_facet | Cynthia J. Thomson Hanna Pahl Luisa V. Giles |
| author_sort | Cynthia J. Thomson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Until recently, treatments for chronic pain commonly relied on in-person interventions, and despite more hybrid care options today, capacity for delivery remains challenged. Digital programs focusing on the psychosocial aspects of pain may provide low-barrier alternatives.Aims Through a randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application.Methods Participants (n = 198; 82% women, mean age = 46.7 [13.1] years; mean pain duration 13.6 [11.2] years) with nonmalignant chronic pain were randomized to either a 6-week intervention (n = 98) or a wait-listed usual care group (n = 100). The intervention involved regular engagement with a user-guided mobile application (Curable Inc.) informed by the biopsychosocial model of pain that included pain education, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and expressive writing. The co-primary outcomes were pain severity and interference at 6 weeks.Results We observed significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control group with estimated changes of −0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] −1.04 to −0.29, P < .001, d = 0.43) and −0.60 (95% CI −1.18 to −0.03, P = .04, d = 0.27) for pain severity and interference, respectively. There were significant improvements across secondary outcomes (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System pain interference; pain catastrophizing; anxiety, depression; stress). Frequency of app use was correlated with improved pain interference (P < .001) and pain catastrophizing (P = 0.018), and changes from baseline persisted in the intervention group at 12 weeks (P < .05).Conclusions A short-term mobile app intervention resulted in significant improvements across physical and mental health outcomes compared to wait-listed usual care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9fe9b63dc21f4adc9fd86309a4f41248 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2474-0527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Pain |
| spelling | doaj-art-9fe9b63dc21f4adc9fd86309a4f412482025-08-20T02:36:31ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCanadian Journal of Pain2474-05272024-12-018110.1080/24740527.2024.2352399Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic painCynthia J. Thomson0Hanna Pahl1Luisa V. Giles2School of Kinesiology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, British Columbia, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, British Columbia, CanadaSchool of Kinesiology, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, British Columbia, CanadaBackground Until recently, treatments for chronic pain commonly relied on in-person interventions, and despite more hybrid care options today, capacity for delivery remains challenged. Digital programs focusing on the psychosocial aspects of pain may provide low-barrier alternatives.Aims Through a randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application.Methods Participants (n = 198; 82% women, mean age = 46.7 [13.1] years; mean pain duration 13.6 [11.2] years) with nonmalignant chronic pain were randomized to either a 6-week intervention (n = 98) or a wait-listed usual care group (n = 100). The intervention involved regular engagement with a user-guided mobile application (Curable Inc.) informed by the biopsychosocial model of pain that included pain education, meditation, cognitive behavioral therapy, and expressive writing. The co-primary outcomes were pain severity and interference at 6 weeks.Results We observed significant improvements in the intervention group compared to the control group with estimated changes of −0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] −1.04 to −0.29, P < .001, d = 0.43) and −0.60 (95% CI −1.18 to −0.03, P = .04, d = 0.27) for pain severity and interference, respectively. There were significant improvements across secondary outcomes (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System pain interference; pain catastrophizing; anxiety, depression; stress). Frequency of app use was correlated with improved pain interference (P < .001) and pain catastrophizing (P = 0.018), and changes from baseline persisted in the intervention group at 12 weeks (P < .05).Conclusions A short-term mobile app intervention resulted in significant improvements across physical and mental health outcomes compared to wait-listed usual care.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352399biopsychosocial modelmobile apppain managementpain educationmeditation |
| spellingShingle | Cynthia J. Thomson Hanna Pahl Luisa V. Giles Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain Canadian Journal of Pain biopsychosocial model mobile app pain management pain education meditation |
| title | Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| title_full | Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| title_fullStr | Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| title_short | Randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| title_sort | randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a multimodal mobile application for the treatment of chronic pain |
| topic | biopsychosocial model mobile app pain management pain education meditation |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/24740527.2024.2352399 |
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