"There's a Pain App for That": Review of Patient-targeted Smartphone Applications for Pain Management. Issue 6 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lalloo, Chitra; Jibb, Lindsay A.; Rivera, Jordan; Agarwal, Arnav; Stinson, Jennifer N.
• Is Part Of: Clinical journal of pain. Volume 31:Issue 6(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: e-Health -- smartphone application -- pain self-management -- critical appraisal -- patient-oriented; Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Analgesia -- Periodicals; 616.047205
• DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000171
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-8047

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: There are a growing number of pain self-management applications (apps) available for users to download on personal smartphones. The purpose of this study was to critically appraise the content and self-management functionality of currently available pain apps. Methods: An electronic search was conducted between May and June 2014 of the official stores for the 4 major operating systems. Two authors independently identified patient-focused apps with a stated goal of pain management. Discrepancies regarding selection were resolved through discussion with a third party. Metadata from all included apps were abstracted into a standard form. The content and functionality of each app as it pertained to pain self-management was rated. Results: A total of 279 apps met the inclusion criteria. Pain self-care skill support was the most common self-management function (77.4%). Apps also purported providing patients with the ability to engage in pain education (45.9%), self-monitoring (19%), social support (3.6%), and goal-setting (0.72%). No apps were comprehensive in terms of pain self-management, with the majority of apps including only a single self-management function (58.5%). In addition, only 8.2% of apps included a health care professional in their development, not a single app provided a theoretical rationale, and only 1 app underwent scientific evaluation. Discussion: Currently available pain self-management apps for patients are simplistic, lack the involvement of health care professionals in their development, and have not been rigorously tested for effectiveness on pain-related health outcomes. There is a need to develop and test theoretically and evidence-based apps to better support patients with accessible pain care self-management. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.