Wonder

Research Outline

Prepared for trux_dole | Delivered November 19, 2020

Chronic Pain Tracking

Goals

Locate evidence (published studies, articles, medical journals, etc.) with hard data that validate the effectiveness ROI of pain tracking for reducing chronic pain. Locate additional information (publications, studies, etc.) that show the positive impact, if any, that reducing chronic pain can have on secondary conditions (i.e. hypertension, anxiety, depression, diabetes, etc.). This information will be used to better understand the potential for pain tracking and online communities for chronic pain management. 

Early Findings

A study published in The Clinical Journal of Pain in June 2016 found that a text message-based support group, which required patients to measure and track their pain levels at least twice a day resulted in lower levels of reported visual, general, relation, and sleep pain in later weeks. 
In September 2019, another study was published in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare that found teletherapy sessions for chronic pain improved patients' pain levels and mood. This same study noted that a major issue with chronic pain management continues to be treatment compliance/adherence more than anything else.
In May 2019, BioMed Central Ltd. published an article that analyzed different pain management apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to understand the product offerings and capabilities. This study found that many pain tracking apps allow users to record their pain on a scale, define where on the body pain is originating, and even track their associated symptoms with it. Many of these applications have a number of interface issues, though, which reduce patient use.
A study published in Neural Plasticity section of Hindawi journal in 2017 determined that there is a defined connection between chronic pain and depression, and that nearly 85% of patients that suffer from chronic pain develop sever depression. 