Digital-My Arm Pain Programme (D-MAPP) - Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and evaluation of the Digital-My Arm Pain Programme (D-MAPP) for improving painful distal upper limb musculoskeletal disorders
IRAS ID
303520
Contact name
Philip G Conaghan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
In this research programme we will develop and evaluate a digital rehabilitation programme (Digital-My Arm Pain Programme, D-MAPP) to support people with distal upper limb musculoskeletal disorders (including hand, wrist and thumb osteoarthritis (OA), carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis and epicondylitis (known as tennis elbow). D-MAPP will include an exercise programme tailored to the specific condition and the patients’ current level of function, together with education to help them look after their own condition (self-management).
The 6-year programme includes 4 workpackages (WPs):
WP1 will review published evidence and obtain agreement from experts and patients using a series of structured questionnaires (a Delphi study). This will establish the main building blocks for the D-MAPP intervention (e.g. exercise programme content, areas for self-management support). We will use focus groups to explore patients’ views on barriers and facilitators to using digital programmes.
WP2 - We will work closely with patients and healthcare professionals to co-design D-MAPP, using the building blocks identified in WP1. We will test how acceptable D-MAPP is to patients using interviews.
WP3 (We will seeking ethical approval for WP3 in a separate application)-
We will use a large clinical trial to formally test whether D-MAPP has the desired benefit on function and pain for people with these conditions, compared to usual clinical care. We will compare NHS costs between groups, to see whether the intervention is good value-for-money, and learn about participants’ experiences of using D-MAPP.WP4 (‘Implementation’) will consider the practical steps needed to roll-out D-MAPP widely to everybody with these conditions through routine clinical practice. This will include communication, education and publicising D-MAPP.
This novel digital rehabilitation programme has potential to provide better pain control, improved physical function and, if relevant, enhanced work participation for many millions. The D-MAPP will also reduce burden on overstretched healthcare services.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0277
Date of REC Opinion
18 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion