Using mobile health tools to prevent chronic pain in teens after surgery
Effectiveness of an mHealth psychosocial intervention to prevent transition from acute to chronic postsurgical pain in adolescents
This study is testing a helpful mobile app called SurgeryPal that supports teens in managing pain after surgery by teaching them coping skills and reducing the need for pain medication.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10262845 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) psychosocial intervention designed to help adolescents manage pain after surgery. The program, called SurgeryPal, includes two phases: one before surgery to address psychological risk factors and another after surgery to teach pain self-management skills. By focusing on non-pharmacological approaches, the research aims to reduce the reliance on opioids and improve overall health-related quality of life for young patients. The intervention is tailored specifically for adolescents undergoing invasive musculoskeletal surgeries, a group particularly vulnerable to developing chronic pain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who are scheduled to undergo invasive musculoskeletal surgeries.
Not a fit: Patients who are not undergoing surgery or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of chronic postsurgical pain in adolescents, improving their long-term health outcomes and quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with psychosocial interventions in reducing acute postsurgical pain in adolescents, indicating a promising approach for this research.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palermo, Tonya M — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Palermo, Tonya M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.