Chronic Pain Forecast Priorities: What People Want

What is it about?

This study aimed to understand the preferences of individuals with chronic pain for a pain-forecasting model. Two patient and public involvement activities were conducted, including a focus group and a survey. Participants prioritized features such as forecasting pain flares and fluctuations in pain severity, particularly the timing of onset and severity. Making plans was also prioritized as a key benefit. The study found that the majority of participants would use a future pain forecast, and it could help them manage daily pain and improve their quality of life. However, limitations of the study include potential biases in participant representation and generalizability due to the online recruitment process.

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Why is it important?

Improving quality of life: A pain-forecasting model can help individuals with chronic pain manage their daily pain and improve their quality of life by providing them with information about the timing, severity, and duration of pain flares. Personalized pain management: By understanding participants' priorities and perceived benefits, researchers can design a pain forecasting model that is tailored to the needs and preferences of people with chronic pain, enhancing its effectiveness in supporting personalized pain management. Empowering individuals: By offering insights into their pain patterns, a pain forecast can empower individuals with chronic pain to make informed decisions about their daily activities, pharmacological interventions, and adapting their work, ultimately enhancing their sense of control over their condition. Key Takeaways: 1. People with chronic pain prioritize forecasting of pain flares and fluctuations in pain severity, particularly the timing of the onset and the severity, as key features of a pain forecast. 2. Making plans is prioritized as a key benefit of a pain forecast, as it can help individuals with chronic pain reduce the unpredictability of their pain and better manage their daily activities. 3. Previous work has reported on longer-term prognosis and prognostic factors associated with chronic pain outcomes, while the current study focuses on the importance of forecasting pain on a shorter-term basis to support daily activities.