Barriers and facilitators of engagement with app-based self-management in chronic pain patients

Read the full article See related articles

Discuss this preprint

Start a discussion What are Sciety discussions?

Listed in

This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.
Log in to save this article

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify key barriers and facilitators to engaging with app-based self-management strategies among chronic pain patients. Design and method: Semi-structured individual interviews with 24 chronic pain patients were conducted. A 32-item interview schedule was created informed by previous research pertaining to digital technology uptake and the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour Model (COM-B, Michie et al., 2011). Transcripts were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Themes were mapped onto the COM-B model to identify key barriers and facilitators to engagement and highlight necessary behavioural targets for intervention design and implementation. Results: Results indicated that barriers and facilitators aligned with Psychological Capability, Physical Capability, Physical Opportunity, Social Opportunity and Reflective Motivation. Barriers reflected: (1) Impact of pain and ability to engage; (2) Cognitive load; (3) Information access; (4) Financial; (5) Self-efficacy and (6) Individual differences. Whereas facilitators were reflective of: (7) Connection with like-minded others; (8) Improved pain awareness and autonomy and (9) Accessibility. Automatic Motivation was not represented in the data. Conclusion: This study provides insight into perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging with app-based self-management amongst chronic pain patients. Employing COM-B model mapping facilitated the identification of key behavioural components that influence uptake and utilisation of self-management strategies via digital interventions, providing a foundation for theoretically underpinned intervention development and implementation.

Article activity feed