Supporting the Management of Osteoarthritis Pain: A Needs Analysis

Abstract

Osteoarthritis is expected to affect approximately 72 million older adults by the year 2030. It is one of the top causes of disability, mobility problems, and chronic pain among older adults. With so many individuals affected, it is important to identify how to effectively manage the pain associated with osteoarthritis. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the factors and knowledge critical to the successful management of osteoarthritis pain and to evaluate the management tools currently available to the general public. We conducted structured interviews with three subject matter experts (SMEs). The interviews identified critical variables in pain management, such as physical activity, mood, and medication taking behavior, as well as common misconceptions about pain management held by many older adults. In addition, we assessed the usability of available pain management tools with six older adults and conducted a heuristic analysis of several additional pain management tools available on the market. All of the tools reviewed were found to be lacking in several key areas, such as failing to include critical variables and difficulty integrating the data collected into a meaningful representation of one's pain experience. Resolving these issues will improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from osteoarthritis.

Self-Management of Wellness and Illness in an Aging Population

“…Current applications were missing several recommended guidelines for diabetes self-management, such as the need for education and personalized feedback. Similar findings have been reported for applications designed to support management of chronic pain, often associated with various forms of arthritis (McBride, Tsai, Knott, & Rogers, 2011). Therefore, designers of these technologies will need to acquire an understanding of what is involved in the disease or wellness activity they are designing for.…”

Mobile Health Apps: Improving Usability for Older Adult Users

“…Similarly, in Medisafe Pill Reminder, different functions require different data entry processes. These inconsistencies may increase user frustration and confusion, leading to unsuccessful attempts to enter or edit data (Grindrod et al, 2014; McBride et al, 2011). To minimize user confusion, we suggest standardizing the colors, sizes, and language used for labeling buttons and icons.…”

“…Evaluations of existing mHealth apps have highlighted issues that may limit usability by an older adult population. Perceptual issues, such as small font or screen sizes (Gao, Zhou, Liu, Wang, & Bowers, 2017) or poor use of color (Wildenbos et al, 2015), are noted in existing mHealth apps (see also McBride, Tsai, Knott, & Rogers, 2011). Some apps provide few options to correct errors (Gao et al, 2017) or fail to provide clear instructions (Grindrod, Li, & Gates, 2014).…”