Digital Navigation: A UX Pilot Study in the Context of Pain Management

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Chronic Pain Management
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Chronic pain significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Digital self-management tools offer potential but face adoption challenges without human support.
• Integrating digital tools with human support is crucial for effective patient engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of digital navigator (DN) follow-up on chronic pain patients using a self-management app.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a digital navigator in enhancing patient engagement and communication.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 26 participants with chronic pain.
• Participants used a pain management app and received digital navigator follow-up over three months.
• Evaluation focused on changes in perceived ability to ask questions, digital confidence, and perceived support.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant improvement in patients' perceived ability to ask questions was observed.
• Participants reported increased digital confidence and a greater sense of perceived support.
• Hospital experience remained stable throughout the study period.

Conclusions:

• Digital navigator follow-up can strengthen engagement and communication in chronic pain self-management.
• Combining human support (DN) with digital tools may enhance patient engagement with health apps.
• Further investigation in larger studies is warranted to validate these findings.