Background: Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Our Whole Lives, an electronic health (eHealth) toolkit for Chronic Pain (Our Whole Lives for Chronic Pain [OWLCP]), is a mind-body chronic pain management platform that teaches self-management strategies to reduce pain impact and pain medication use.
Objective: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of OWLCP in reducing pain impact and pain-related outcomes.
Methods: We conducted a pre-post clinical study (2 cohorts) to assess the feasibility of OWLCP usage among low-income patients with chronic pain. Outcome data, collected at baseline and 9 weeks, included Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS-29), pain self-efficacy, and pain medication use. In the statistical analysis, we used descriptive statistics, logistic regression, linear regression, and qualitative methods.
Results: Among the enrolled 43 participants, the average age was 50 years, (39/43) 91% were female, (16/43) 37% were black, and (7/43) 16% were Hispanic. From baseline to follow-up, the PROMIS measures showed a reduction in depression (P=.02), pain interference (P=.003), and average pain impact score (P=.007). Pain self-efficacy increased ((P<.001), whereas opioid use had a 13% reduction (P=.03).
Conclusions: The eHealth chronic pain management platform, OWLCP, is a potential tool to reduce the impact of chronic pain for low-income racially diverse populations.
Keywords: Web-based; complementary therapies; internet; mindfulness-based stress reduction; minority health.
©Paula Gardiner, Salvatore D'Amico, Man Luo, Niina Haas. Originally published in JMIR mHealth and uHealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 30.03.2020.