• Jennifer N Stinson, Chitra Lalloo, Lauren Harris, Lisa Isaac, Fiona Campbell, Stephen Brown, Danielle Ruskin, Allan Gordon, Marilyn Galonski, Leah R Pink, Norman Buckley, James Lorne Henry, Meghan White, and Allia Karim.
• Pain Res Manag. 2014 Sep 1; 19 (5): 257-65.

BackgroundWhile there are emerging web-based self-management programs for children and adolescents with chronic pain, there is currently not an integrated web- and smartphone-based app that specifically addresses the needs of adolescents with chronic pain.ObjectivesTo conduct a needs assessment to inform the development of an online chronic pain self-management program for adolescents, called iCanCope with Pain™.MethodsA purposive sample of adolescents (n=23; 14 to 18 years of age) was recruited from two pediatric chronic pain clinics in Ontario. Interdisciplinary health care providers were also recruited from these sites. Three focus groups were conducted with adolescents (n=16) and one with pediatric health care providers (n=7). Individual adolescent interviews were also conducted (n=7).ResultsQualitative analysis uncovered four major themes: pain impact; barriers to care; pain management strategies; and transition to adult care. Pain impacted social, emotional, physical and role functioning, as well as future goals. Barriers to care were revealed at the health care system, patient and societal levels. Pain management strategies included support systems, and pharmacological, physical and psychological approaches. Transition subthemes were: disconnect between pediatric and adult systems; skills development; parental role; and fear⁄anxiety. Based on these identified needs, the iCanCope with Pain™ architecture will include the core theory-based functionalities of: symptom self-monitoring; personalized goal setting; pain coping skills training; peer-based social support; and chronic pain education.ConclusionsThe proposed iCanCope with Pain™ program aims to address the self-management needs of adolescents with chronic pain by improving access to disease information, strategies to manage symptoms and social support.

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