iCanCope PostOp app to help teens manage pain after scoliosis or pectus surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

iCanCope PostOp is a smartphone-based clinical decision support app that lets adolescents track pain and recovery after scoliosis or pectus surgery and delivers tailored, evidence-informed self-management advice. The study will enroll 12–18-year-olds scheduled for eligible surgery at Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) or Boston Children's Hospital, and participants will use the app after hospital discharge. The app combines symptom monitoring, educational content about the surgery, and in-the-moment recommendations generated by standardized algorithms. Key outcomes include postoperative pain levels, health-related quality of life, and opioid use during the recovery period.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. aged 12 to 18 years;
2. own a smartphone compatible with the iCanCope app (iOS or Android);
3. diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or pectus carinatum or pectus excavatum;
4. are able to speak and read English; and
5. scheduled to undergo scoliosis or minimally invasive pectus repair surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. significant cognitive impairment or other co-existing medical condition that could limit the ability to use the iCanCope app, as identified by their health care provider;
2. participated in a previous study of iCanCope PostOp;
3. a diagnosed chronic pain condition not related to the surgical condition; or

Where it's running

• Hospital for Sick Children
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
• Boston Children's Hospital
  Boston, Massachusetts, United States Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jennifer Stinson, RN, PhD — The Hospital for Sick Children
• Study coordinator: Jennifer Stinson, RN, PhD
• Email: jennifer.stinson@sickkids.ca
• Phone: 416-813-7654

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.