Evaluating the Manage My Pain App in Pain Clinics

EQ5D5L is a short descriptive questionnaire and a visual analogue scale that are simple to complete and assess five dimensions of quality of life including: mobility, selfcare, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety and depression (EuroQol, 2019). Each quality of life dimension will be assessed according to the following five level response scale, which varies in degree of severity from: no problem, light problem, moderate problems, severe problems, and unable to / extreme problems (EuroQol, 2019). The respondent will be asked to select the response item that most appropriately matches their current state (EuroQol, 2019). The single item score for each dimension is used assess the dimension, rather than a composite score. This instrument has been proven to be valid, reliable, and responsive in numerous conditions and populations (EuroQol, 2019; Finch et al., 2018).

The GAD-7 is a brief self-report assessment of anxiety severity for clinical practice and research (Spitzer et al., 2006). The GAD-7 consists of 7-items assessing anxiety on a four-point scale with response options including: not at all (score=0), several days (score=1), more than half the days (score=2), and nearly every day (score=3). To obtain the GAD-7 score, all scores are added to develop a total anxiety score. A score of 0 to 4 = minimal anxiety, 5 to 9 = mild anxiety, 10 to 14 = moderate anxiety, and a score greater than 15 = severe anxiety (Plummer et al., 2016). To screen for anxiety disorders, a score of 8 or greater represents a reasonable cut-point for identifying probable cases of generalized anxiety disorder (Plummer, et al 2016). The GAD-7 has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid tool to detect generalized anxiety (Spitzer et al., 2006).

The Pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) is an 11 point scale that asks patients to identify the number between 0 (no pain at all) and 10 (the worst pain ever possible) that fits their pain intensity (McCaffery & Beebe, 1989).

PSEQ-4 is an instrument to assess pain self-efficacy for clinical and research purposes (Chiarotto et al., 2016). The PSEQ-4 includes four items scored on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from not at all confident (score=0) to completely confident (score=6). Pain self-efficacy is calculated by summing the scores to determine a total score ranging from 0 to 24 (Chiarotto et al., 2016). High scores indicate greater pain self-efficacy. A systematic review has found that the PSEQ-4 has demonstrated excellent validity, reliability, and responsiveness among chronic lower back pain patients (Dubé et al., 2021). The PSEQ-4 may replace the full PSEQ and have similar responsiveness (Chiarotto et al., 2016).

A medication usage questionnaire used in pain clinics was modified with clinicians for this study. The survey asks if any of the listed medication (i.e.,Tramadol, Acetaminophen/ Codeine (Tylenol No 3, Hydromorphone, Hydromorphone Contin, Oxycodone 5mg/ Acetaminophen 325mg (Percocet), Oxycodone 5mg/Naloxone 10mg (Targin), Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Codeine, Morphine, Morphine Contin, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Methadone, Fentanyl, Buprenorphine, Other Opioid) were taken in the last 7 days. If the medication was taken, the dose and frequency of administration was recorded.