When in doubt, ask the audience: potential users' perceptions of Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy for chronic pain

The complex association of barriers and interest in internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for depression and anxiety: informing e-health policies through exploratory path analysis

BACKGROUND

Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) provides critical remote access to mental health care to at-risk populations. However, to our knowledge, no investigation has been conducted to understand complex pathways through which barriers to care (i.e. structural, attitudinal and technological) correlate with patient interest in ICBT.

AIM

The objective of this study is to develop and test a pathway analysis framework using structural equation modeling to understand direct and mediating associations of barriers to care with interest in ICBT.

METHODS

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted among adult (>18 years) urban and rural residents (n = 200) in Saskatchewan, Canada. An online survey assessed interest in ICBT, barriers to ICBT, demographics, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Utilizing structural equation modeling, a path analysis framework was developed.

RESULTS

Path analysis results showed how associations between complex barriers and demographic variables correlate with interest in ICBT. For instance, the negative association of perceived financial concerns and life chaos on interest in ICBT was mediated by perceived access to care.

CONCLUSION

The findings identify specific barriers that could be addressed through targeted population health interventions to improve uptake of ICBT.

Determining the Influencing Factors on Acceptance of eHealth Pain Management Interventions Among Patients With Chronic Pain Using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology: Cross-sectional Study

Background

Chronic pain is a complex disease with high prevalence rates, and many individuals who are affected do not receive adequate treatment. As a complement to conventional therapies, eHealth interventions could provide many benefits to a multimodal treatment approach for patients with chronic pain, whereby future use is associated with the acceptance of these interventions.

Objective

This study aims to assess the acceptance of eHealth pain management interventions among patients with chronic pain and identify the influencing factors on acceptance. A further objective of the study is to evaluate the viability of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model and compare it with its extended version in terms of explained variance of acceptance.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional web-based study. In total, 307 participants with chronic pain, as defined according to the International Association for the Study of Pain criteria, were recruited through flyers, posters, and web-based inquiries between December 2020 and July 2021. In addition to sociodemographic and medical data, the assessment included validated psychometric instruments and an extended version of the well-established UTAUT model. For statistical analyses, group comparisons and multiple hierarchical regression analyses were performed.

Results

The acceptance of eHealth pain management interventions among patients with chronic pain was overall moderate to high (mean 3.67, SD 0.89). There was significant difference in acceptance among age groups (W=9674.0; r=0.156; P=.04). Effort expectancy (β=.37; P<.001), performance expectancy (β=.33; P<.001), and social influence (β=.34; P<.001) proved to be the most important predictors of acceptance. The extended UTAUT (including the original UTAUT factors as well as sociodemographic, medical, and eHealth-related factors) model explained 66.4% of the variance in acceptance, thus supporting the viability of the model. Compared with the original UTAUT model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence), the extended model explained significantly more variance (F_25,278=1.74; P=.02).

Conclusions

Given the association between acceptance and future use, the knowledge of the influencing factors on acceptance should be used in the development and promotion of eHealth pain management interventions. Overall, the acceptance of eHealth pain management interventions was moderate to high. In total, 8 predictors proved to be significant predictors of acceptance. The UTAUT model is a valuable instrument for determining acceptance as well as the factors that influence acceptance of eHealth pain management interventions among patients with chronic pain. The extended UTAUT model provided the greatest predictive value for acceptance.

Barriers to older adults' uptake of mobile-based mental health interventions

Background

To address increasing demand of mental healthcare treatments for older adults and the need to reduce delivery costs, healthcare providers are turning to mobile applications. The importance of psychological barriers have been highlighted in the uptake of mobile-based mental health interventions and efforts have been made to identify these barriers in order to facilitate initial uptake and acceptance. However, limited research has focused on older adults’ awareness of these applications and factors that might be hindering their use.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived barriers that older adults experience in the uptake of mobile-based mental health interventions.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 10 older adults, 50 years or older (female = 7, mean age = 68 years), who experienced periods of low mood. National Health Service applications were demonstrated to facilitate conversation and explore participants’ understanding of mental health and mobile-based mental health interventions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts.

Results

The social ecological model was adopted as an organising framework for the thematic analysis which identified six distinct barriers to older adults’ uptake of mobile-based mental health interventions: mental electronic-health (e-health) awareness, interaction with technology, discontinuation, ‘seeing’ facilitates therapeutic alliance, incongruent role of the general practitioner and privacy and confidentiality.

Conclusions

Older adults experience a number of barriers to uptake ranging from the individual level to a macro, organisational level. The practical implications of these barriers are discussed such as the need for increased awareness of mobile-based mental health interventions among older adults.

Factors affecting engagement of primary health care professionals and their patients in facilitated access to online alcohol screening and brief intervention

OBJECTIVE

Understanding the impact of Level of Information and Communication Technology Use, computer self-efficacy and perceived product usability of healthcare professionals regarding an alcohol consumption reduction website on facilitated access defined as referring patients to the webpage.

METHODS

52 nurses and 41 general practitioners were assessed before patient recruitment started, using a questionnaire designed to assess socio-demographic characteristics, professional engagement to the website, Level of Information and Communication Technology Use, Computer self-efficacy ("the judgment of one's capability to use a computer") and Perceived product usability ("the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use"). Dependent variable was the self-report of number of brochures distributed to patients.

RESULTS

Professionals' engagement with facilitated access measured by brochures handed out was not predicted by Perceived product usability, Level of Information and Communication Technology Use or Computer self-efficacy. Professionals who had actively engaged with the website (customization) provided significantly more brochures compared with those who had not (Coefficient B 15.7 CI95% 3.5-27.8). Professional's socio-demographic characteristics did not predict engagement in facilitated access.

CONCLUSION

Professionals' Perceived product usability, Level of Information and Communication Technology Use and Computer self-efficacy were not associated to facilitated access. Active early engagement of health professionals with the website (customization) is a key predictor of subsequent engagement with facilitated access.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Computer Self-Efficacy, Level of Information and Communication Technology Use and Perceived Product Usability are irrelevant for facilitated access and efforts should be focused on taking time to collaborate with providers and convincing them about the usefulness of the intervention (including customization). Website customization by health care professionals is a promising predictor of engagement.

Patients' Needs and Requirements for eHealth Pain Management Interventions: Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

A growing body of evidence supports the potential effectiveness of electronic health (eHealth) interventions in managing chronic pain. However, research on the needs and preferences of patients with chronic pain in relation to eHealth interventions is scarce. Eliciting user input in the development of eHealth interventions may be a crucial step toward developing meaningful interventions for patients for potentially improving treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with chronic pain with regard to information and communication technology, understand how an eHealth intervention can support the everyday needs and challenges of patients with chronic pain, and identify possible facilitators and barriers for patients' use of an eHealth pain management intervention.

METHODS

Twenty patients living with chronic pain and five spouses participated in individual interviews. Semistructured interview guides were used to explore participants' needs, experiences, and challenges in daily life as well as their information and communication technology experiences and preferences for eHealth support interventions. Spouses were recruited and interviewed to gain additional insight into the patients' needs. The study used qualitative thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The participants were generally experienced technology users and reported using apps regularly. They were mainly in favor of using an eHealth self-management intervention for chronic pain and considered it a potentially acceptable way of gathering knowledge and support for pain management. The participants expressed the need for obtaining more information and knowledge, establishing a better balance in everyday life, and receiving support for improving communication and social participation. They provided suggestions for the eHealth intervention content and functionality to address these needs. Accessibility, personalization, and usability were emphasized as important elements for an eHealth support tool. The participants described an ideal eHealth intervention as one that could be used for support and distraction from pain, at any time or in any situation, regardless of varying pain intensity and concentration capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insight into user preferences for eHealth interventions aiming to address self-management for chronic pain. Participants highlighted important factors to be considered when designing and developing eHealth interventions for self-management of chronic pain, illustrating the importance and benefit of including users in the development of eHealth interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03705104; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03705104.

Effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility of an Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral pain management program in a routine online therapy clinic in Canada

Background

Access to face-to-face cognitive behavioral pain management programs is very limited. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral pain management has potential to improve client access to care but is not readily available in Canada.

Aims

The present study explored the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of a previously validated Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral pain management course, the Pain Course, when offered in a publicly funded provincial Online Therapy Clinic. The five-lesson course was delivered over 8 weeks and was accompanied by brief weekly contact from a coach via weekly telephone calls and secure online messages.

Methods

A single-group open trial design (ISRCTN15509834) was employed (n = 55). Effectiveness was assessed by examining symptom measures at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up. Completion rates and satisfaction ratings were used to examine acceptability. Feasibility was assessed by examining time required for service delivery.

Results

Results were highly comparable to past studies of the Pain Course showing improvements on primary measures of disability (Cohen’s d = 0.45; 18% reduction), depression (Cohen’s d = 0.85; 36% reduction), and anxiety (Cohen’s d = 0.52; 32% reduction) at posttreatment that were maintained at follow-up. Completion rates (76%) and course satisfaction ratings (85% would recommend course) were high. Coach time per week was estimated as M = 12.67 (SD = 6.53) min.

Conclusions

The findings add to existing literature on the Pain Course demonstrating for the first time the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral pain management programs for adults with chronic pain in a routine online therapy clinic.

Treatment acceptability and preferences for managing severe health anxiety: Perceptions of internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy among primary care patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

While cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an established treatment for health anxiety, there are barriers to service access. Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) has demonstrated effectiveness and has the potential to improve access to treatment. Nevertheless, it is unknown how patients perceive ICBT relative to other interventions for health anxiety and what factors predict ICBT acceptability. This study investigated these questions.

METHODS

Primary care patients (N = 116) who reported elevated levels of health anxiety were presented three treatment vignettes that each described a different protocol for health anxiety (i.e., medication, CBT, ICBT). Acceptability and credibility of the treatments were assessed following the presentation of each vignette. Participants then ranked the three treatments and provided a rational for their preferences.

RESULTS

The treatments were similarly rated as moderately acceptable. Relative to medication and ICBT, CBT was perceived as the most credible treatment for health anxiety. The highest preference ranks were for CBT and medication. Regression analyses indicated that lower computer anxiety, past medication use, and lower ratings of negative cognitions about difficulty coping with an illness significantly predicted greater ICBT acceptability.

LIMITATIONS

Health anxiety was not assessed with a diagnostic interview. Primary care patients were recruited through a Qualtrics panel. Patients did not have direct experience with treatment but learned about treatment options through vignettes.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication and CBT are preferred over ICBT. If ICBT is to increase treatment access, methods of improving perceptions of this treatment option are needed.

Management of chronic pain through pain management programmes

INTRODUCTION

Chronic pain carries significant impact and is difficult to treat with limited success. Pain management programmes (PMPs) use cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based multidisciplinary rehabilitative approaches to drive functional improvement.

SOURCES OF DATA

A search was conducted using Medline and the Cochrane Library to identify published literature about PMPs or CBT to treat chronic pain.

AREAS OF AGREEMENT

PMPs have significant benefit on functioning for some patients but relatively little impact on the pain. Not all patients, nor pain types, benefit. Around a third of patients show improvement, with considerable variability.

AREAS OF CONTROVERSY

There is much heterogeneity between approaches and outcomes measured, and the extent and duration of benefit is inconsistently reported. The investment required of patients, staff and commissioners is significant. Existing data provides limited information to judge whether PMPs represent good value for each of those stakeholders.

GROWING POINTS

The British Pain Society provide guidelines for PMPs, due for revision in 2018 which may provide opportunities for greater clarity and demonstrating value. Other approaches are emerging and being evaluated.

AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH

Participation may have more subjective impact than objective outcomes and merits qualitative research. With a (significant) minority of patients showing improvement, research into patient and treatment selection is essential alongside longterm outcomes and sustaining benefits.

Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Clinical Practice Related to the Treatment of Pain. Influence on the Professional Activity and the Doctor-Patient Relationship

The increasing relevance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in medical care is indisputable. This evidence makes it necessary to start studies that analyse the scope these new forms of access to information and understanding of medicine have on the professional activity of the physician, on the attitude and on the knowledge of patients or, on the doctor-patient relationship. The purpose of this study is to explore some of these aspects in a group of physicians whose clinical activity is related to one of the greatest social impact health problems which is the treatment of chronic pain. Starting with the completion of a questionnaire, in the study group it is observed that the interaction between social structure, increase of information flows and ICTs generate transformations in social practices and behaviour of the actors of the health system. Internet is confirmed as an information space on the subject, but is shown as an underutilized space of interaction between the doctor and his patient.