Stress and Pain Management Using a Mobile Health App for Adults with Sickle Cell Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a mobile health app called You Cope, We Support YCWS designed to reduce stress and improve pain control while lowering opioid use in adults with sickle cell disease SCD. SCD causes recurrent acute and chronic pain episodes worsened by stress. This randomized controlled trial aims to test the short-term 8 weeks and long-term 6 months effects of YCWS on pain, stress, and opioid use in 170 adults with SCD. The study also explores prediction models for patient outcomes using machine learning based on personal and environmental factors. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups a control group that self-monitors pain, stress, and opioid use with alertsreminders, and an experimental group that receives the same self-monitoring plus access to YCWS, which includes video banks of relaxation and distraction exercises and support features. During the first 8 weeks, both groups receive daily automated reminders to report outcomes, with additional intervention support and video use encouraged for the experimental group. For months 3 to 6, both groups continue daily monitoring with reminders, but only the experimental group retains access to YCWS video resources. Participants will report their stress and pain levels daily using 0-10 scales and track opioid use with special software and medication monitoring devices. The study team will monitor data entry and intervention use, providing support if needed. Researchers will analyze repeated measurements over time to assess effects and conduct exit interviews on intervention acceptability. The total participation lasts six months with ongoing data collection and support to understand how YCWS may impact stress, pain, and opioid use in adults with SCD.

A Stress and Pain Self-management m-Health App for Adult Outpatients With Sickle Cell Disease