The Development of a Gamified Web-based Pain Management Program (GAP) for Community-dwelling Older Adults With Chronic Pain

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Chronic Pain Syndrome

Treatments: Other: Gamified web-based pain management Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06387706

GAP

Details and patient eligibility

About

Pain Management in Older Adults: Pain significantly impacts the well-being of older adults, often leading to diminished physical abilities and a reduced quality of life. Despite this, pain management remains suboptimal, with concerns about medication side effects and a tendency to view pain as a natural aspect of aging. Consequently, many seniors are hesitant to use painkillers. As an alternative, non-pharmacological strategies such as educational programs, physical activity, massage, relaxation techniques, and music therapy are gaining traction.

Innovative Non-Drug Solutions: To improve participation in non-medication pain relief methods, we suggest incorporating gaming elements into these programs (GAP). Originating in digital media in 2008, gamification has since spread across various industries. It involves adding game-like elements to activities to boost engagement, experience, and motivation.

Project Goals: The aims of this initiative include creating a web-based Gamified Pain Management Program (GAP), engaging older adults with chronic pain in the development of GAP, and gathering their feedback on the program's effectiveness.

Enrollment: 4 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 60 or above
• Can understand Cantonese
• Scored >6 in the Abbreviated Mental Test; a cut-off point of 6 is valid for differentiating between normal and abnormal cognitive functions in geriatric clients
• Have a history of non-cancer pain in the past 6 months
• Have a pain score of at least 2 on the Numeric Rating Scale
• Able to take part in light exercise and stretching
• Owns a smartphone and can access the Internet

Exclusion criteria

• Have severe visual and/or auditory deficits that affect that seeing and hearing
• Have a serious organic disease or malignant tumor
• Have a mental disorder diagnosed by neurologists or psychiatrists
• Had a surgical treatment in the past two months
• Experienced drug addiction

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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4 participants in 1 patient group

GAP group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be invited in the process of developing the GAP, the pain education materials, exercise videos, gameing elements and activities. Each stages of development of the GAP will be jointly monitored by the research team and the participants, feedback and comments will be constantly seek via biweekly meeting.

Treatment:

Other: Gamified web-based pain management Program