Conclusion : Systemic changes to academic and funding structures could better support eHealth tool availability and may reduce potential for research waste .
Abstract Introduction : Numerous eHealth tools for pain assessment and management have been developed and evaluated with promising results regarding psychometric properties , efficacy , and effectiveness .
Although considerable re sources are spent on developing and evaluating these tools with the aim of increasing access to care , current evidence suggests they are not made available to end users , reducing their impact and creating potential research waste .
Electronic momentary assessment of weather changes as a trigger of headaches in children.
BACKGROUND Variables that are thought to precipitate migraine or tension-type headache episodes in children hitherto have only been studied using retrospective reports . As such , there is little empirical evidence to support the actual predictive association between presumed headache triggers and actual headache occurrence in children . OBJECTIVE The present study sought to determine if fluctuations in weather , a commonly reported headache trigger in children , predict increased likelihood of headache occurrence when evaluated using rigorous prospect i ve methodology ( " electronic momentary assessment ") . METHODS Twenty-five children ( 21 girls , 4 boys ) between the ages of 8 - 17 years attending a new patient neurology clinic appointment and having a diagnosis of chronic migraine , chronic tension-type , or episodic migraine headache ( with or without aura ) participated in the study . Children completed baseline measures on headache characteristics , presumed headache triggers , and mood and subsequently were trained in the use of electronic diaries to record information on headaches . Children then completed thrice daily diaries on h and held computers for a 2-week time period ( 42 assessment s per child ) while data on weather variables ( temperature , dew point temperature , barometric pressure , humidity , precipitation , and sunlight )  in the child 's geographic location were recorded each time a diary was completed . Data were analyzed using multilevel models . RESULTS Of the weather variables , relative humidity and presence of precipitation were significantly predictive of new headache onset , with nearly a 3-fold increase in probability of headache occurrence during times of precipitation or elevated humidity in the child 's area , b = 0.38 , t(821 ) = 2.10 , P = .04 , and b = 0.02 , t(821 ) = 2.81 , P = .01 , respectively . These associations remained after accounting for fluctuations in mood , and associations were not significantly stronger in children who at baseline thought that weather was a headache trigger for them . Changes in temperature , dew point temperature , barometric pressure , and sunlight were not significantly predictive of new headache episode occurrence in this sample . CONCLUSIONS Results of the present study lend some support to the belief commonly held by children with recurrent headaches that weather changes may contribute to headache onset . Although electronic momentary assessment methodology was found to be feasible in this population and to have the potential to identify specific headache triggers for children , it remains to be determined how best ( or even whether ) to incorporate this information into treatment recommendations
Conclusion : Systemic changes to academic and funding structures could better support eHealth tool availability and may reduce potential for research waste .
Abstract Introduction : Numerous eHealth tools for pain assessment and management have been developed and evaluated with promising results regarding psychometric properties , efficacy , and effectiveness .
Although considerable re sources are spent on developing and evaluating these tools with the aim of increasing access to care , current evidence suggests they are not made available to end users , reducing their impact and creating potential research waste .