Background: Chronic pain is a highly prevalent condition that requires multidisciplinary treatment. However, in the United Kingdom, access to specialist pain clinics where patients can receive medical multidisciplinary treatment is limited, and provision varies between health boards. As such, self-management of chronic pain using digital tools has been gaining traction recently, but evidence of its effectiveness from clinical-based trials focuses mainly on quantitative outcomes. Objective: This systematic review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative evidence on patients’ experiences with digital health interventions (DHIs) for the management of chronic pain. Methods: This systematic review will consider qualitative and mixed methods studies that explore the experience of patients (aged 18 years and older) with chronic pain engaging in DHIs to manage their pain. MEDLINE Ovid, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases will be searched for published studies. The systematic review will be conducted in accordance with the ENTREQ (Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research) guidelines. Following the 3-step thematic synthesis methodology of Thomas and Harden, titles and abstracts will be screened by 2 independent reviewers (AM and HM), and a third reviewer (MI or FM) will resolve any conflict that arises before the full-text screening. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist tool will be used to critically appraise the included studies. The extracted data will be imported to NVivo (QSR International), where thematic synthesis will be used to derive analytical themes from the included studies. Results: Themes that encapsulate the patient experience will be identified from qualitative evidence, and these themes will shed light on the perceived benefits and disadvantages, usability, acceptability, and the overall impact digital tools can have on the lives of those with chronic pain. Conclusions: This systematic review will identify, appraise, and synthesize the overall experience of patients engaging in DHI to manage a diverse range of chronic pain conditions. By elaborating the patient experience through qualitative analysis, the findings from this review will enhance our current understanding of the experiences of patients with chronic pain using digital tools for the self-management of their pain and highlight what person-centered elements are essential for future DHI development. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023445100; http://tinyurl.com/4z77khfs International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/52469
Background: Research regarding the effectiveness of digital health interventions (DHIs) for people living with chronic pain is widely documented, although it is often measured against changes in clinical outcomes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the full impact of DHIs, it is vital to understand the experience of individuals who are using them. An exploration of qualitative data regarding the experience of people living with chronic pain engaging with DHIs could provide a more in-depth account of how individuals interact and engage with such tools, uncovering the overall impact DHIs can have on the lives of people living with chronic pain. Objective: This qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis aimed to appraise and synthesize relevant qualitative evidence on patients’ experiences of engaging with DHIs for the self-management of chronic pain symptoms. Methods: A systematic literature search of qualitative and mixed methods studies published between 2013 and 2023 was conducted across 6 databases: MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Eligible studies included adult patients aged ≥18 years with a chronic pain diagnosis (ie, >12 weeks) reporting on the experience of engaging in a DHI for the self-management of chronic pain. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist for qualitative research was used to appraise each study. Following a 3-step inductive thematic synthesis approach, the researcher performed line-by-line coding of each eligible article to identify descriptive themes. Through iterative evaluation of the descriptive themes, analytical themes that facilitated a deeper understanding of the data were derived. Results: In total, 37 qualitative and mixed methods studies were included in the review. Thematic synthesis revealed three overarching themes encompassing five subthemes: (1) personal growth, with 2 subthemes (gaining new insights and renewed mindset); (2) active involvement, with 3 subthemes (motivation, improved access, and health care decision-making); and (3) connectedness and support. Conclusions: A positive experience with DHIs among people living with chronic pain is achieved through an improved understanding of their condition, greater self-awareness of how symptoms impact their lives, and an increase in motivation to play an active role in their health care. DHIs promote the confidence and independence of people living with chronic pain, as well as facilitate a sense of ongoing support between routine appointments. However, DHIs may disempower people living with chronic pain by placing too much focus on their pain and should be used as an adjunct to existing care as opposed to replacing in-person appointments. To appropriately meet the needs of people living with chronic pain, the content and features of DHIs should be personalized. Development of future DHIs should use a co-design approach involving key stakeholders to ensure the needs of people living with chronic pain are met. Clinical Trial: PROSPERO CRD42023445100; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023445100