Insights into back pain through linkage of digital patient generated data with electronic health records

Martinez De Pinillos, Alejandra; Helliwell, Toby; Cooper, Matthew; Mullane, Mick; Meleck, Stephanie; O'hanlon, Shaun; Engel, Pierre; Hiller, Joshua; Dhanjal, Jaskiran

Abstract

Background: Back pain affects up to 80% of the population in industrialised countries and is the largest cause of disability in the UK. Physician and patient engagement are critical to ensure timely and multidisciplinary collection of back pain events and symptoms. A patient-centred approach can also improve self-management of back pain.

Objectives: Quantify the burden of back pain in primary care through digital health technology allowing discrete data collection timeframes. Additionally, assess the impact of an innovative methodology in patient and physician engagement and retention.

Methods: Observational multicentre prospective study of acute/chronic lower back pain in the UK. A recruitment tool was embedded into EMIS (GPs’ patient EMR software) to facilitate engagement and alleviate burden on sites and patients. Patients received further study information and provided electronic consent, information on QoL, work productivity along with physical and mental impacts of back pain through the uMotif app on mobile devices. Data generated is linked at the patient level with a data extract from patients' EMR, reflecting care over a specific period of time including back pain.

Results: By October 2019, 46% of GPs across 138 sites showed willingness to participate and invited patients. Among these GPs, 66% of them successfully led to patients consenting to take part in the study. Out of the 322 patients invited, 42% downloaded the app and consented to take part in the study. By the fifth month, 80% of the final study population was recruited. Baseline and follow-up completion rates are 86%, 38% (44 days) and 30% (final timepoint).

Conclusions: Our preliminary results show the potential for improved GP and patient engagement compared with traditional observational studies. The data was generated by patients via the mobile app which meant the study did not require follow up visits with the GP, resulting in a lower burden on recruitment and data collection. Although e-health tools have already shown potential to facilitate engagement in observational studies, this study is the first in England to assess this approach in combining EMR and PRO data in back pain. Leveraging EMR data together with patient generated data, has the potential to shorten the time needed to complete a study, thereby reducing costs, improving quality of research data and reducing recall bias. Study results will be available in the coming months and will allow a better understanding of patients' experience of back pain and consequently, will allow better management of treatment by professionals. This study was briefly initiated in ICPE 2019.

Citation

Martinez De Pinillos, A., Helliwell, T., Cooper, M., Mullane, M., Meleck, S., O'hanlon, S., Engel, P., Hiller, J., & Dhanjal, J. (2020, September). Insights into back pain through linkage of digital patient generated data with electronic health records. Paper presented at 36th International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management, Virtual

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 36th International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management
• Start Date: Sep 17, 2020
• End Date: Sep 17, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/503922