Are apps and online support tools effective in helping people manage chronic pain at work?
Full reference: Blake H, Chaplin WJ, Gupta A. The effectiveness of digital interventions for self-management of chronic pain in employment settings: a systematic review, British Medical Bulletin, Volume 151, Issue 1, September 2024, Pages 36–48, https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldae007
Chronic pain is long-lasting pain that continues beyond normal healing time and affects a large proportion of working adults. It can make everyday tasks more difficult, reduce productivity, increase sickness absence, and negatively affect mental wellbeing and quality of life. While healthcare services often provide support for managing chronic pain, this support is not always tailored to the realities of working life. Digital interventions, such as mobile apps and online programmes, may help address this gap by offering flexible, accessible tools that people can use while in employment.
This article reports a systematic review, which means the authors carefully searched for and analysed all available research studies on a specific topic. The aim of the review was to examine how effective digital self-management interventions are for helping adults manage chronic pain in workplace or employment settings. The researchers searched multiple academic databases for studies published between 2001 and 2023.
To be included in the review, studies had to focus on adults who were in work and experiencing chronic pain, and they had to test digital tools that people could use independently (without direct involvement from healthcare professionals). The studies also needed to measure outcomes such as pain intensity, quality of life, physical or psychological wellbeing, or work-related outcomes like productivity or absence.
Out of more than 1,500 articles initially identified, only 8 studies met all the criteria and were included in the review. Together, these studies involved over 1,500 participants from different countries and work environments, most commonly office-based roles.
The digital interventions reviewed varied in format and content. Many were mobile phone apps that encouraged short bouts of movement or stretching during the working day, often supported by reminders or motivational messages. Others were web-based programmes that provided education about pain, advice on physical activity, stress management strategies, and guidance on healthy work habits. Intervention length ranged from around six weeks to several months.
Overall, the findings were encouraging but mixed. Most studies reported reductions in pain levels among participants using digital interventions. Improvements in quality of life and general wellbeing were also commonly observed. Some studies reported positive changes in psychological factors related to pain, such as increased confidence in managing symptoms or reduced fear of movement. However, relatively few studies examined outcomes directly related to work, such as productivity or sickness absence. Only one study showed a clear improvement in work productivity.
The review also highlighted several limitations in the existing evidence. The studies differed widely in design, intervention type, and outcome measures, making it difficult to compare results or draw firm conclusions. Many studies were of moderate or low quality, and most focused mainly on physical activity or exercise, rather than offering a broader approach to pain self-management that includes psychological or workplace-specific support.
In conclusion, digital self-management interventions delivered in workplace settings show promise as a supportive option for workers with chronic pain. They may help improve pain and wellbeing and offer a practical way to extend support beyond healthcare settings. However, more high-quality research is needed, particularly studies that examine long-term effects and outcomes directly relevant to work, such as job performance, absence, and workplace participation.