PP25. Investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a newly developed iPad application (app) for measuring pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients

Abstract

Background: The Childhood Arthritis Prospective Study (CAPS) was established to study outcomes in children with JIA. Despite advances in understanding chronic pain in children, questions remain on how to help children to better communicate pain to health professionals. Frequently used measures of pain assessment are: the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the faces pain scale, revised (FPS-R). However, these methods do not take account of the number of pain sites, nor the type of pain experienced, which is crucial for managing JIA. An evidencebased iPad app has been developed for children with JIA [1], following research that shows that children are able to use images from the In My Shoes pain module on a computer to describe their pain experiences. Aims: To explore whether the pain app is a valid measure for communicating pain in children aged between 5 and 16 years with JIA. To explore acceptability of the pain app to children compared with established pain reporting measures: the VAS and the FPS-R and to obtain acceptability feedback from caregivers regarding the pain app. Methods: A cross-sectional design utilizing standardized questionnaires (the VAS and FPS-R) and the pain app will assess the feasibility and validity of the app. English-speaking children attending clinic for outpatient appointments as part of the CAPS cohort were invited to take part. Children's and caregivers' views on completing the pain measures were sought via a semi-structured interview, which was audio recorded. Results: Early findings indicate overwhelmingly positive support for the pain app. Children reported that they found the app fun and interesting to complete. All children preferred communicating their pain experiences via the pain app to the established pain measures (VAS and FPS-R). Very young children demonstrated an ability to use the pain app independently, and enjoyed the easy nature of the app and how it enabled them to visualize their pain experiences. Conclusion: Future development of the app will need to focus on refining icons used to describe pain, and consider age-specific adjustments for younger children under 10 (e.g. providing written descriptions of pain, which children can select).