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 .
Implementation and preliminary effectiveness of a real‐time pain management smartphone app for adolescents with cancer: A multicenter pilot clinical study
BACKGROUND Pain in adolescents with cancer ( 12 - 18 years ) is common and negatively impacts health-related quality of life ( HRQL ) . The Pain Squad+ smartphone app , which provides adolescents with real-time pain self-management support , was developed to address this issue . This study evaluated the implementation of the app to inform a future r and omized controlled trial ( RCT ) and obtain treatment effect estimates for pain intensity , pain interference , HRQL , and self-efficacy . PROCEDURE A one-group baseline/post study design with 40 adolescents recruited from two pediatric tertiary care centers was used . Baseline question naires were completed and adolescents used the app at least twice daily for 28 days , receiving algorithm-informed self-management advice depending on their reported pain . A nurse received alerts in response to sustained pain and contacted adolescents to assist in pain care . Post study question naires were completed . Descriptive analyses , with exploratory inferential testing conducted on health outcome data , were used to address study aims . RESULTS Most ( 40/52 ; 77 % ) eligible adolescents participated . Two participants withdrew participation . Intervention fidelity was impacted by technical difficulties ( occurring for 15 % of participants ) and a prolonged time for nurse contact in the event of sustained pain . Adherence to pain reporting was 68.8 ± 38.1 % . Outcome measure completion rates were high and the intervention was acceptable to participants . Trends in improvements in pain intensity , pain interference , and HRQL were significant , with effect sizes of 0.23 - 0.67 . CONCLUSIONS Implementation of Pain Squad+ is feasible and the app appears to improve pain-related outcomes for adolescents with cancer . A multicenter RCT will be undertaken to examine app effectiveness
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 .