Journal
PAIN MEDICINE
Volume 20, Issue 11, Pages 2120-2128Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnz088
Keywords
Education; Geriatrics; Back Pain; Spine; Technology; App
Categories
Funding
- Veterans Administration Pittsburgh Healthcare System Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center [RX002021-01/PRO 1781]
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Objective. The purpose of this study is to examine the usability and utility of an office-based iPad app that we developed for older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The app screens for conditions that contribute to back pain and pain interference and provides personalized education based on patient responses. It also facilitates patient-provider communication regarding treatment targets and expectations. Methods. Forty-six older adults (age >= 60 years) with CLBP were recruited from the Veterans Affairs and from the Pittsburgh community. Testing was split into two phases. Alpha testing (N = 15) was used to drive design changes to the app. Beta testing (N = 30, after one participant withdrew) used a structured questionnaire to evaluate the app's usability and utility. Results. The application was rated highly for usability and utility (9.6 and 8.9 out of 10, respectively). The majority of participants (82.1%) agreed that the app would help them communicate with their doctor and that it gave them useful information about potentially harmful or unnecessary interventions such as opioids and imaging (79.2% and 75.0%). Participants (age >= 60 years, mean age = 75.5 years) were able to successfully use the application without assistance and would be willing to do so in their primary care office. Conclusions. We present the development of a CLBP app that screens for pain contributors and provides personalized education based on patient responses. Such an app could be employed in a variety of clinical settings to help educate patients about their CLBP and to curtail unnecessary interventions. Patient outcomes are being tested in an ongoing clinical trial.
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