A Chronic Pain Self-Management Mobile App (Dolodoc): Cross-Sectional Acceptability Study

Clinical Snapshot

Key Findings

• P Value: Not reported

• Effect Size: Mean acceptability scores: understandability 1.47 (SD 0.76), motivation 1.12 (SD 0.96), feasibility 1.01 (SD 1.05), relevance 0.99 (SD 1.09), alignment 1.33 (SD 0.89)

• Primary Outcome: Acceptability ratings across 5 dimensions using 5-point Likert scale (-2 to +2)

• Nnt Or Sensitivity: 60% of users (486/802) used app only once, indicating poor retention despite good acceptability

• Confidence Interval: Not reported

Clinical Application

Technically feasible but significant implementation challenges due to poor long-term adherence. Requires additional support strategies Relevant to Australian chronic pain management given similar healthcare challenges. Could complement PBS-funded pain management programs and align with RACGP chronic pain guidelines emphasizing self-management Adults with chronic pain in tertiary care settings, particularly those comfortable with digital health technologies

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Approximately 19% of adults in Europe are affected by chronic pain, which reduces the quality of life. Pain-management mobile health (mHealth) apps offer a promising solution for self-management, but user engagement and adherence can limit their clinical impact. User experience design and research play a crucial role in optimizing usability and long-term adoption of digital health interventions. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the user experience of Dolodoc, a mobile app for chronic pain self-management, using a mixed methods approach that assesses acceptability through a content quality survey and examines use by analyzing overall use patterns. METHODS: A cross-sectional acceptability study of the main content of Dolodoc was conducted among patients with chronic pain recruited from the Geneva University Hospitals pain center and through snowball sampling. Participants rated 84 evidence-based self-management strategies by using a 5-point Likert scale based on 5 acceptability criteria: understandability, motivation, feasibility, relevance, and alignment with the related quality-of-life dimension. To reduce participant fatigue and avoid random responses, the 84 strategies were randomly divided across survey versions. Use was assessed through metrics collected over 6 months with Piwik PRO Analytics to observe real-world use behaviors among Dolodoc users. RESULTS: In the acceptability study, 33 participants rated the self-management strategies positively across all dimensions. On a scale from -2 to 2, the strategies were well understood (mean 1.47, SD 0.76), motivational (mean 1.12, SD 0.96), feasible (mean 1.01, SD 1.05), relevant (mean 0.99, SD 1.09), and aligned with the dimensions (mean 1.33, SD 0.89). The use study demonstrated that 60% (486/802) of the patients used Dolodoc only once, indicating that long-term adherence remains a challenge. Within Dolodoc, pain tracking, useful links, and medication logging were the most actively used features. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the gap between acceptability and long-term adherence to mHealth solutions. Improving personalization and accessibility could increase user engagement and long-term adherence. Future iterations of the app should incorporate tailored interventions and real-time feedback mechanisms. In addition, leveraging a digital navigation follow-up could facilitate user adoption and sustained engagement.

References

1. 1.Guebey, J., Gosetto, L., Rehberg, B., Lovis, C., Ehrler, F., & Molinard-Chenu, A. (2026). A Chronic Pain Self-Management Mobile App (Dolodoc): Cross-Sectional Acceptability Study. JMIR Human Factors. https://doi.org/10.2196/77163