Online psychological intervention to promote healthy adjustment and reduce risk of chronic postsurgical pain following surgery for scoliosis: evaluation of iCanCope post-op smartphone app
Reduction of the impact of preoperative anxiety and postoperative pain for adolescents aged 12- 18 yrs undergoing surgery for scoliosis.
A multi-centre, parallel groups pilot RCT design will be conducted with at least 60 adolescents. Adolescent patients (12-18 years) who are to undergo surgery for scoliosis will be recruited (i) through NUI Galway, School of Psychology and Centre for Pain Research official websites and social media – Facebook and Twitter - Study and research team contact information will be advertised and interested families can make contact. (ii) Local and national press – e.g. Galway Advertiser, iRadio - Study and research team contact information will be advertised and interested families can make contact. (iii) from waiting lists of those scheduled to undergo surgery at a number of collaborating hospitals – (a) Adolescent patients (12-18 years) on waiting lists for scoliosis surgery will be screened by the clinical nurse specialist according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible patients and their families will be approached by the clinical nurse specialist, informed of the study and asked if their details can be passed on to the research team. The research team will contact interested patients and their families to provide more details of the study and find out whether they would like to take part in the study. If they agree to take part, consent/assent will be obtained. If families do not wish to agree to take part there and then, they will be given the contact details of the research team and can make contact if they wish to take part. (b) Alternatively, members of the research team will attend the pre-op clinics and eligible patients and their families will be referred to the research team by the clinical nurse specialist, who will explain the study to them in detail. If families agree to take part, consent/assent will be obtained there and then. If families do not wish to agree to take part there and then, they will be given the contact details of the research team and can make contact if they wish to take part. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, an
1. Aged 12 to 18 years 2. Own a smartphone compatible with the iCanCope app (iOS or Android) 3. Diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis 4. Are able to speak and read English 5. Scheduled to undergo scoliosis surgery
1. Significant cognitive impairment or other co-existing medical condition that could limit the ability to use the iCanCope app, as identified by their health care provider 2. A diagnosed chronic pain condition not related to the surgical condition