%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 25
%N 
%P e47284
%T Short-Term Findings From Testing EPIO, a Digital Self-Management Program for People Living With Chronic Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial
%A Bostrøm,Katrine
%A Børøsund,Elin
%A Eide,Hilde
%A Varsi,Cecilie
%A Kristjansdottir,Ólöf Birna
%A Schreurs,Karlein M G
%A Waxenberg,Lori B
%A Weiss,Karen E
%A Morrison,Eleshia J
%A Stavenes Støle,Hanne
%A Cvancarova Småstuen,Milada
%A Stubhaug,Audun
%A Solberg Nes,Lise
%+ Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Pb 4950 Nydalen, Oslo, N-0424, Norway, 47 91332341, lise.solberg.nes@rr-research.no
%K chronic pain
%K self-management
%K digital health
%K efficacy
%K cognitive behavioral therapy
%K acceptance and commitment therapy
%D 2023
%7 25.8.2023
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Chronic pain conditions involve numerous physical and psychological challenges, and while psychosocial self-management interventions can be of benefit for people living with chronic pain, such in-person treatment is not always accessible. Digital self-management approaches could improve this disparity, potentially bolstering outreach and providing easy, relatively low-cost access to pain self-management interventions. Objective: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the short-term efficacy of EPIO (ie, inspired by the Greek goddess for the soothing of pain, Epione), a digital self-management intervention, for people living with chronic pain. Methods: Patients (N=266) were randomly assigned to either the EPIO intervention (n=132) or a care-as-usual control group (n=134). Outcome measures included pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory; primary outcome measure), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), self-regulatory fatigue (Self-Regulatory Fatigue 18 scale), health-related quality of life (SF-36 Short Form Health Survey), pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), and pain acceptance (Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire). Linear regression models used change scores as the dependent variables. Results: The participants were primarily female (210/259, 81.1%), with a median age of 49 (range 22-78) years and a variety of pain conditions. Analyses (n=229) after 3 months revealed no statistically significant changes for the primary outcome of pain interference (P=.84), but significant reductions in the secondary outcomes of depression (mean difference −0.90; P=.03) and self-regulatory fatigue (mean difference −2.76; P=.008) in favor of the intervention group. No other statistically significant changes were observed at 3 months (all P>.05). Participants described EPIO as useful (ie, totally agree or agree; 95/109, 87.2%) and easy to use (101/109, 92.7%), with easily understandable exercises (106/109, 97.2%). Conclusions: Evidence-informed, user-centered digital pain self-management interventions such as EPIO may have the potential to effectively support self-management and improve psychological functioning in the form of reduced symptoms of depression and improved capacity to regulate thoughts, feelings, and behavior for people living with chronic pain. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03705104; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03705104 
%M 37624622
%R 10.2196/47284
%U https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e47284
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/47284
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37624622