Presented at the 2012 AAPM Annual Meeting « Back

Web-Based Support to Self-Manage Neuropathic Pain

Synne W. Venuti, MSW, svenuti@inflexxion.com¹, Kevin L. Zacharoff, MD¹, Pravin K. Pant, BA¹, Ryan Black, PhD¹, Pronabesh DasMahapatra, MD MPH², Jonas Bromberg, PsyD¹, Daniel Surette, BA¹, (1) Inflexxion, Inc., Newton, Massachusetts, (2) Medical Epidemiologist, Newton, Massachusetts

The Internet can assist patients suffering from neuropathic pain by developing self-management skills, however, currently existing pain websites offer few interactive self-management strategies, or focus on solutions concentrated on specific products. This poster aims to describe the development and testing of an interactive module for neuropathic pain as part of the website painACTION.com. This randomized, controlled trial examined the hypotheses that, relative to a control condition, painACTION.com participants would report significant improvements in the frequency and severity of pain, pain self-efficacy pain-related psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). The conditions included experimental (eight site visits in a month plus five monthly “boosters”) and control (treatment as usual) groups. Measures (pain, daily functioning, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, pain beliefs, emotional functioning, and work productivity) were administered at baseline, post-intervention, and 3- and 6-month follow-ups. The research protocol was approved by the New England IRB on 1/11/10. Experimental participants as compared to control participants evidenced a significantly greater mean change over time on: (1) psychological distress, (2) use of positive coping strategies, (3) self-efficacy, (4) pain intensity, (5) physical functioning, (6) patient global impression of change, and (7) activity impairment. Results indicate painACTION is a promising behavioral adjunct to medical care. Because many people with NP have limited access to expert behavioral and lifestyle change support, or are reluctant to seek mental health services, this online resource serves as an important element of a comprehensive disease management approach by integrating a behavioral health perspective.

Funding: Development of painACTION is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, SBIR grant # R44DA023539.