Developments in the Use of E-Health for Chronic Pain Management

Abstract

SUMMARY Recognition that changes are required in how chronic conditions are managed, combined with advances in technology, has led to the emergence of e-health as a possible solution. This selective review seeks to illustrate some of the ways in which e-health has been applied to chronic pain. Examples of technology use are provided within the areas of information provision, assessment and monitoring, and remote therapy, and the various strengths and weaknesses associated with each method are highlighted. One of the main concerns is that, despite enthusiastic promises, evidence of e-health for pain management is often based on small numbers and few randomized controlled trials. However, the situation is improving, especially within the field of internet-based interventions where the number of higher quality trials is increasing, and results to date are encouraging. A sense of cautious optimism seems reasonable when considering the potential of e-health for the management of chronic pain.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has received unrestricted grant funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, UK. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author has received unrestricted grant funding from the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, UK. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entitywith a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.