A technology ecosystem for chronic pain: promises, challenges, and future research

Being a common, mostly unpredictable, highly personalized manifestation, chronic pain is thought to be one of the most promising conditions in which the use of digital health technologies may boost patient’s engagement and coping. In fact, pain treatment, besides pharmacotherapy, involves non-pharmacotherapeutic management, which may include physical and psychological interventions. Self-monitoring, real-time assessment, timely feedback, treatment options information, social and community support, and connection with a multidisciplinary care team are among the features that can mostly help chronic pain sufferers to enhance disease and comorbidities management and, ultimately, improve their quality of life (1).