Curable, really? Exploring technology for pain support in the NHS

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Curable, but for whom? A Socioecological Exploration of Digital Pain Support in an NHS Context

• IRAS ID

  357042

• Contact name

  Jagjit Mankelow

• Contact email

  j.mankelow@tees.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Teesside University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 18 days

• Research summary

  Chronic pain is a complex and often life-changing condition that affects millions of people. Digital health tools, such as the Curable app, offer new ways to support people with chronic pain. However, not everyone engages with these tools in the same way and factors such as personal circumstances, social support and healthcare access may influence their impact.

  This study aims to explore how different individual, social and environmental factors affect people’s experiences using the Curable app as part of their NHS pain management care. Participants will receive a one-year Curable app membership alongside their usual care. By conducting interviews with 20 adults receiving care through the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS service, researchers aim to gain insight into how different factors impact engagement with the app.

  Study objectives
  To understand how broader life circumstances - including social position, identity, and access to resources - shape engagement with digital pain interventions.
  To investigate how healthcare messages, cultural norms and structural conditions influence perceptions of chronic pain and digital health tools
  To critically examine the equity implications of digitalising pain care, particularly for individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds
  

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/YH/0154

• Date of REC Opinion

  14 Aug 2025

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion