“Focus on the Good” - Participant Perspectives after Engaging in an Online Pain Self-Management Program

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate participants' perspectives after engaging in an 8-week online pain self-management program. Unexplored qualitative data for this analysis were collected via secure online surveys distributed during a previously published randomized controlled trial. Participants for the present study were 55 adults prescribed opioid medicines for chronic pain. A qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis methods was used to analyze data obtained from three open-ended survey questions. Five common themes were identified from participant responses regarding online participation. Three themes described the benefits of the program and included: positive reframing, improved accountability, and feeling supported. Two themes described how participants would like to improve the program experience and included: desire for personalizing and ease of use. Participants' insights regarding perceived benefits and limitations can assist health care providers in understanding how online programs may assist in chronic disease selfmanagement for a multitude of health problems.

Creating a Self-management Mobile Application for People With Chronic Low Back Pain

“…Additionally, the theory posits that individuals employ knowledge and belief, self-regulation skills, and social facilitation, known as self-management processes, to achieve improved self-management behaviors and outcomes 12 . Since the advent of IFSMT in 2009, growing research has used the theory to explain and predict self-management among people with chronic conditions, including heart failure, chronic pain, and osteoarthritis 14–16 . In the context of chronic pain, three studies used IFSMT to develop intervention strategies targeting pain knowledge, self-regulation, and social facilitation to promote pain reduction and improved quality of life 14,15,17 .…”

“…12 Since the advent of IFSMT in 2009, growing research has used the theory to explain and predict self-management among people with chronic conditions, including heart failure, chronic pain, and osteoarthritis. [14][15][16] In the context of chronic pain, three studies used IFSMT to develop intervention strategies targeting pain knowledge, self-regulation, and social facilitation to promote pain reduction and improved quality of life. 14,15,17 One of three studies completed testing and verified the associations between self-management process factors, including knowledge and self-regulation, and self-management distal outcomes, such as functional status and quality of life.…”

“…[14][15][16] In the context of chronic pain, three studies used IFSMT to develop intervention strategies targeting pain knowledge, self-regulation, and social facilitation to promote pain reduction and improved quality of life. 14,15,17 One of three studies completed testing and verified the associations between self-management process factors, including knowledge and self-regulation, and self-management distal outcomes, such as functional status and quality of life. 15 In 2021, nearly 81% of the global population, or 6.3 billion individuals, were estimated to own smartphones.…”