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Smartphone Applications Designed to Improve Older People's Chronic Pain Management: An Integrated Systematic Review
Margaret Dunham1, Antonio Bonacaro2, Patricia Schofield1
1College of Health Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK.
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 30, 2021
Summary
Smartphone applications show potential for managing chronic pain in older adults, but more research is needed to confirm their safety, effectiveness, and cost-benefit compared to traditional treatments.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Digital Health
- Pain Management
Background:
- Chronic pain in older adults is frequently under-managed due to concerns about side-effects and under-reporting.
- Telehealth interventions, particularly smartphone applications, are emerging as promising tools for chronic disease management.
- The role of telehealth in promoting self-management of chronic pain in the elderly population remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review existing evidence on the benefits of smartphone applications for chronic pain self-management in older individuals.
- To synthesize findings from both quantitative and qualitative studies.
Main Methods:
- An extensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsychINFO, Cochrane, and Science Direct.
- Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers from the identified studies.
- An integrative systematic review methodology was employed.
Main Results:
- The review identified 10 articles focusing on smartphone applications for chronic pain self-management in older adults.
- The findings indicate a growing interest in digital health solutions for this demographic.
Conclusions:
- Further research is essential to evaluate the effects of smartphone interventions for chronic pain in older adults.
- Future studies should compare the safety, acceptability, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of these digital tools against established treatment modalities.
