TY - JOUR
T1 - Reducing pain in children with cancer at home: a feasibility study of the KLIK pain monitor app
AU - Simon, Julia D. H. P.
AU - Schepers, Sasja A.
AU - Grootenhuis, Martha A.
AU - Mensink, Maarten
AU - Huitema, Angelique D.
AU - Tissing, Wim J. E.
AU - Michiels, Erna M. C.
N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by ZonMw under Grant Agreement No 844001505. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).
PY - 2021/12
Y1 - 2021/12
N2 - Purpose: This study assessed adherence to, feasibility of, and barriers and facilitators of implementation of an app developed to monitor and follow-up with pain in children with cancer at home. Methods: Children (8–18 years) receiving cancer treatment (all diagnoses) or their parents (of children aged 0–7 years) used the KLIK Pain Monitor app for 3 weeks. Pain was assessed twice daily using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS-11) (ranging from 0 to 10). Healthcare professionals (HCP’s) from the hospital’s Pediatric Pain Service were instructed to follow-up with clinically significant pain scores (≥ 4) within 120 min (scores 4–6) or 30 min (scores 7–10). Adherence, feasibility, and implementation outcomes were assessed using questionnaires, app log data, and interviews. Results: Twenty-seven children (M age = 7.3 years, 51.8% male) and six HCP’s participated. Sixty-three percent (N = 17) of families used the app on a daily basis during three weeks, and 18.5% (N = 5) reported pain scores twice daily during that time (family adherence). Twelve out of 27 children (44.4%) reported a clinically significant pain score at least once. In 70% (14/20) of clinically significant pain scores, HCP’s followed-up with families within the set timeframe (HCP adherence). Outcomes reveal feasibility for the majority of app functions (i.e., positive evaluation by ≥ 70% families/HCP’s), and non-feasible aspects could be resolved. Identified barriers and facilitators were used to improve future implementation efforts. Conclusion: Use of the KLIK Pain Monitor app seems feasible. Future research will determine its effectiveness in reducing pain in children with cancer at home.
AB - Purpose: This study assessed adherence to, feasibility of, and barriers and facilitators of implementation of an app developed to monitor and follow-up with pain in children with cancer at home. Methods: Children (8–18 years) receiving cancer treatment (all diagnoses) or their parents (of children aged 0–7 years) used the KLIK Pain Monitor app for 3 weeks. Pain was assessed twice daily using an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS-11) (ranging from 0 to 10). Healthcare professionals (HCP’s) from the hospital’s Pediatric Pain Service were instructed to follow-up with clinically significant pain scores (≥ 4) within 120 min (scores 4–6) or 30 min (scores 7–10). Adherence, feasibility, and implementation outcomes were assessed using questionnaires, app log data, and interviews. Results: Twenty-seven children (M age = 7.3 years, 51.8% male) and six HCP’s participated. Sixty-three percent (N = 17) of families used the app on a daily basis during three weeks, and 18.5% (N = 5) reported pain scores twice daily during that time (family adherence). Twelve out of 27 children (44.4%) reported a clinically significant pain score at least once. In 70% (14/20) of clinically significant pain scores, HCP’s followed-up with families within the set timeframe (HCP adherence). Outcomes reveal feasibility for the majority of app functions (i.e., positive evaluation by ≥ 70% families/HCP’s), and non-feasible aspects could be resolved. Identified barriers and facilitators were used to improve future implementation efforts. Conclusion: Use of the KLIK Pain Monitor app seems feasible. Future research will determine its effectiveness in reducing pain in children with cancer at home.
KW - Feasibility
KW - Implementation
KW - Pain
KW - Pediatric Oncology
KW - mHealth/eHealth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85108167516&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06357-9
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06357-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 34136954
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 29
SP - 7617
EP - 7626
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 12
ER -