Exploring the effects of fitbit incentive on treatment outcomes in veterans undergoing intensive pain rehabilitation program

• Main Authors: Tiffany Toor (Author), Sarah Palyo (Author), Kathryn Schopmeyer (Author), Alan N. Simmons (Author), Irina A. Strigo (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: SpringerOpen, 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s41687-024-00721-z; 2509-8020
• Keywords: Chronic pain; Fitbit; Wearable electronic devices; Treatment satisfaction; Patient satisfaction; Pain treatment; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2024)

Abstract Objective This study compares clinical pain outcomes between patients in a pain treatment program that received a Fitbit, to patients that did not. We also explored: (1) cognitive, emotional, and psychological factors that may have impacted the decision to opt in to receiving a Fitbit; and (2) whether the choice to receive a Fitbit impacted changes in cognitive, emotional, and psychological factors following treatment. Methods Among 58 patients in a multidisciplinary pain treatment program at a Veterans Affairs Healthcare System hospital, 31 patients opted to receive a Fitbit as adjunct treatment, while 27 did not. This study utilized patient-reported and practitioner-collected data from the pain treatment program. Results Compared to the non-Fitbit group, the Fitbit group displayed a significant decrease in average pain intensity, however showed no correlation between Fitbit activity and average pain intensity. Additionally, treatment satisfaction was the only predictor of treatment group, when modeling pre- and post-treatment outcomes changes. Conclusion The implementation of a Fitbit may lead to improved pain intensity. Initial evidence suggests that opting to receive a Fitbit during a pain treatment program indicates treatment engagement leading to greater treatment satisfaction. Future work is needed to verify and expand upon this potential mechanism.