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 .
An Internet-based Self-management Program with Telephone Support for Adolescents with Arthritis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Objective . To determine the feasibility of a 12-week Internet-based self-management program of disease-specific information , self-management strategies , and social support with telephone support for youth with juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( JIA ) and their parents , aim ed at reducing physical and emotional symptoms and improving health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) . Methods . A nonblind pilot r and omized controlled trial ( NCT01011179 ) was conducted to test the feasibility of the “ Teens Taking Charge : Managing Arthritis Online ” Internet intervention  across 4 tertiary-level centers in Canada . Participants were 46 adolescents with JIA , ages 12 to 18 years , and 1 parent for each participant , who were r and omized to the control arm ( n = 24 ) or the Internet intervention ( n = 22 ) . Results . The 2 groups were comparable on demographic and disease-related variables and treatment expectation at baseline . Attrition rates were 18.1 % and 20.8 % , respectively , from experimental and control groups . Ninety-one percent of participants r and omized to the experimental group completed all 12 online modules and weekly phone calls with a coach in an average of 14.7 weeks ( SD 2.1 ) . The control group completed 90 % of weekly attention-control phone calls . The Internet treatment was rated as acceptable by all youth and their parents . In posttreatment the experimental group had significantly higher knowledge ( p < 0.001 , effect size 1.32 ) and lower average weekly pain intensity ( p = 0.03 , effect size 0.78 ) . There were no significant group differences in HRQOL , self-efficacy , adherence , and stress posttreatment . Conclusion . Findings support the feasibility ( acceptability , compliance , and user satisfaction ) and initial efficacy of Internet delivery of a self-management program for improving disease-specific knowledge and reducing pain in youth with JIA
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 .