A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study
Abstract Background Chronic pain usually lasts several years. During this time, value-oriented aspects of life often fade into the background in favour of coping with the pain, which is associated with a lower quality of life. Psychotherapeutic methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Digital Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-023-00053-w |
| _version_ | 1797388099125248000 |
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| author | Simon Felix Zerth Hauke Jeldrik Hein Julia Anna Glombiewski Winfried Rief Jenny Riecke |
| author_facet | Simon Felix Zerth Hauke Jeldrik Hein Julia Anna Glombiewski Winfried Rief Jenny Riecke |
| author_sort | Simon Felix Zerth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chronic pain usually lasts several years. During this time, value-oriented aspects of life often fade into the background in favour of coping with the pain, which is associated with a lower quality of life. Psychotherapeutic methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can alleviate this. However, for those who suffer from chronic pain, access to such therapies is limited. Electronic health interventions provide access to evidence-based methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of a brief electronic values-based intervention on patients with chronic back pain. Methods A study with a replicated AB single-case experimental design was conducted with 28 participants suffering from chronic back pain. Participants answered daily questions concerning their pain intensity and quality of life (wellbeing, pain catastrophising, acceptance of chronic pain, engaged living) for 10 to 17 days. The subsequent mobile intervention on value-oriented activities lasted an additional 10 days. During this time, daily assessments continued. Our analysis was performed using a hierarchical two-level modelling approach as well as visual and descriptive analysis. Results The majority of participants did not measurably benefit from the intervention. Neither model-based inference nor visual analysis indicated plausible intervention effects. The results of one responder and one non-responder are presented. In their qualitative feedback, most participants described being satisfied with the intervention. The perceived usefulness of psychotherapy as a treatment for chronic back pain increased from pre- to post-intervention (p < .001, d z = 1.17). Conclusions This study shows that microinterventions for chronic back pain patients are feasible, but should be planned over a longer period of time to enable measurable changes. The electronic mobile format did not cause participants any difficulties. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05205889, date of registration: January 12, 2022. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:35:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efaf293307c54b8ab4c5e6741dacd9f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:35:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-efaf293307c54b8ab4c5e6741dacd9f02023-12-17T12:30:36ZengBMCBMC Digital Health2731-684X2023-12-011111210.1186/s44247-023-00053-wA digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case studySimon Felix Zerth0Hauke Jeldrik Hein1Julia Anna Glombiewski2Winfried Rief3Jenny Riecke4Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University MarburgDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University MarburgDepartment of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, RPTU Kaiserslautern-LandauDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University MarburgDepartment of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps-University MarburgAbstract Background Chronic pain usually lasts several years. During this time, value-oriented aspects of life often fade into the background in favour of coping with the pain, which is associated with a lower quality of life. Psychotherapeutic methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can alleviate this. However, for those who suffer from chronic pain, access to such therapies is limited. Electronic health interventions provide access to evidence-based methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of a brief electronic values-based intervention on patients with chronic back pain. Methods A study with a replicated AB single-case experimental design was conducted with 28 participants suffering from chronic back pain. Participants answered daily questions concerning their pain intensity and quality of life (wellbeing, pain catastrophising, acceptance of chronic pain, engaged living) for 10 to 17 days. The subsequent mobile intervention on value-oriented activities lasted an additional 10 days. During this time, daily assessments continued. Our analysis was performed using a hierarchical two-level modelling approach as well as visual and descriptive analysis. Results The majority of participants did not measurably benefit from the intervention. Neither model-based inference nor visual analysis indicated plausible intervention effects. The results of one responder and one non-responder are presented. In their qualitative feedback, most participants described being satisfied with the intervention. The perceived usefulness of psychotherapy as a treatment for chronic back pain increased from pre- to post-intervention (p < .001, d z = 1.17). Conclusions This study shows that microinterventions for chronic back pain patients are feasible, but should be planned over a longer period of time to enable measurable changes. The electronic mobile format did not cause participants any difficulties. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05205889, date of registration: January 12, 2022.https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-023-00053-wSingle-case experimental designMicrointerventionChronic PaineHealthValuesGoals |
| spellingShingle | Simon Felix Zerth Hauke Jeldrik Hein Julia Anna Glombiewski Winfried Rief Jenny Riecke A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study BMC Digital Health Single-case experimental design Microintervention Chronic Pain eHealth Values Goals |
| title | A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study |
| title_full | A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study |
| title_fullStr | A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study |
| title_short | A digital values-based microintervention for chronic back pain patients: lessons learned from a randomised experimental single-case study |
| title_sort | digital values based microintervention for chronic back pain patients lessons learned from a randomised experimental single case study |
| topic | Single-case experimental design Microintervention Chronic Pain eHealth Values Goals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s44247-023-00053-w |
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