User-Driven Development of a Digital Behavioral Intervention for Chronic Pain: Multimethod Multiphase Study.

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Behavioral science
• Chronic pain management

Background:

• Chronic pain affects 27% of adults, significantly impairing quality of life.
• Existing behavioral interventions have limited accessibility.
• There is a need for user-friendly, feasible, and evidence-based digital pain management solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a digital behavioral intervention for chronic pain using a user-centered approach.
• To address the specific needs and preferences of patients with chronic pain and therapists.
• To create a feasible and accessible digital solution for chronic pain management.

Main Methods:

• A multimethod approach involving patients and therapists across three development phases.
• Creation of fictional patient personas to represent diverse chronic pain experiences.
• Qualitative data collection via focus groups and pilot testing of intervention prototypes.

Main Results:

• A 6-week digital behavioral intervention was developed based on end-user input.
• End-users emphasized the need for accessibility, adaptability, tailored content, and user-friendly design.
• Pilot testing indicated the intervention was helpful, enjoyable, and understandable, suggesting good usability.

Conclusions:

• User-centered design, including personas and focus groups, is crucial for developing digital health interventions.
• The developed digital intervention shows promise for chronic pain management.
• End-user feedback provides valuable insights for future improvements, such as video content and text-to-speech functionality.