Acceptability and usability of smartphone-based brainwave entrainment technology used by individuals with chronic pain in a home setting

Abstract

Background: Brainwave entrainment (BWE) using rhythmic visual or auditory stimulation has many potential clinical applications, including the management of chronic pain, where there is a pressing need for novel, safe and effective treatments. The aim of this study was to gain qualitative feedback on the acceptability and usability of a novel BWE smartphone application, to ensure it meets the needs and wishes of end users. Methods: Fifteen participants with chronic pain used the application at home for 4 weeks. Semi-structured telephone interviews were then carried out. A template analysis approach was used to interpret the findings, with an initial coding template structured around the constructs of a theoretical framework for assessing acceptability of healthcare interventions. Structured data analysis generated a final modified coding structure, capturing themes generated across participants’ accounts. Results: The four main themes were ‘approach to trying out the app: affective attitude and ethicality’, ‘perceived effectiveness’, ‘opportunity costs and burden’ and ‘intervention coherence and self-efficacy’. All participants were willing to engage with the technology and welcomed it as an alternative approach to medications. Participants appreciated the simplicity of design and the ability to choose between visual or auditory stimulation. All the participants felt confident in using the application. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate preliminary support for the acceptability and usability of the BWE application. This is the first qualitative study of BWE to systematically assess these issues.

Neuromodulatory Interventions for Pain

“…Whereas this is an important first step, further development is required to transform this lab-based application into a therapeutic technique that patients can use in their own home with therapeutic benefit. In a parallel study (Locke et al, 2020), a first qualitative assessment of a smartphonebased alpha entrainment technology was carried out. Individuals with chronic pain were asked about their experience with using the technology at home, using a virtual-reality headset for rhythmic visual stimulation and headphones for rhythmic auditory stimulation (binaural beats).…”

Entraining Alpha Activity Using Visual Stimulation in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Feasibility Study

“…Whereas this is an important first step, further development is required to transform this lab-based application into a therapeutic technique that patients can use in their own home with therapeutic benefit. In a parallel study ( Locke et al, 2020 ), a first qualitative assessment of a smartphone-based alpha entrainment technology was carried out. Individuals with chronic pain were asked about their experience with using the technology at home, using a virtual-reality headset for rhythmic visual stimulation and headphones for rhythmic auditory stimulation (binaural beats).…”

A feasibility study of pre-sleep audio and visual alpha brain entrainment for people with chronic pain and sleep disturbance

“…The hBET programme is a smartphone application specifically developed by the Human Pain Research Group (32) (a collaboration between researchers at the Universities of Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, UK) to provide repetitive stimulation at 10 Hz by either visual or auditory modalities for investigation of the treatment of chronic pain. Development of the application (33) and user co-design (34) have been reported. The 10 Hz frequency was chosen as it is at the centre of the alpha band, and was found to more effectively reduce experimental pain than high (12 Hz) or low (8 Hz) alpha ( 23).…”