Evaluating Feasibility and Acceptability of DockTales for Chronic Pain
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Summary
This study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of DockTales, a mobile health tool designed for adults with chronic pain. DockTales supports pain and sleep tracking through brief diaries, body-map pain reporting, reflective journaling, visual summaries, and optional AI-supported interaction. The study will be conducted completely remotely. Participants will complete 2 weeks of DockTales use and 2 weeks of REDCap-based daily monitoring, with the order randomized. The main goal is to determine whether DockTales is usable, acceptable, engaging, and practical for adults with chronic pain compared with standard REDCap monitoring.
Description
This is a fully remote, randomized crossover pilot clinical trial designed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of DockTales among adults with chronic pain. Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting for more than 3 months. A total of up to 60 participants will be enrolled. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two study sequences. Participants assigned to Sequence 1 will complete 2 weeks of DockTales use followed by 2 weeks of REDCap-based daily monitoring. Participants assigned to Sequence 2 will complete 2 weeks of REDCap-based daily monitoring followed by 2 weeks…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–88 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age ( 18-88 years old) * English speaker (written and spoken) * Chronic pain for at least 3 months * Smartphone/text messaging capability Exclusion Criteria: * Any personal history of mania, schizophrenia, or other psychoses * Severe psychiatric condition (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, autism) leading to hospitalization within the last 3 years. * Pregnancy or breast feeding * Impaired or uncorrected hearing
Interventions
- BehavioralDockTales
DockTales includes several core features: 1. Brief diary entries 2. Body-map pain reporting/feedback 3. Reflective journaling 4. Optional AI-supported interaction The AI-supported feature is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, mental health care, or emergency support. The focus of the DockTales intervention is to support self-monitoring, reflection, engagement, and user experience among adults with chronic pain.
- OtherREDCap monitoring
REDCap will be used to monitor daily symptoms and diaries from people with chronic pain.
Location
- University of Maryland Baltimore School of NursingBaltimore, Maryland