Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions for chronic pain: A systematic literature review

D.L. van de Graaf; H.R. Trompetter; T. Smeets; F. Mols

Internet Interventions (Dec 2021)

Online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions for chronic pain: A systematic literature review

D.L. van de Graaf,
H.R. Trompetter,
T. Smeets,
F. Mols

Affiliations

D.L. van de Graaf: CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands; Corresponding author at: CoRPS, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE Tilburg, the Netherlands.
H.R. Trompetter: CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
T. Smeets: CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
F. Mols: CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases, Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Department of Research, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26
p. 100465

Abstract

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Background: We systematically reviewed all literature concerning online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions for chronic pain to evaluate their (1) ACT content, (2) design characteristics, (3) design rationales, and (4) adherence. Material and methods: A systematic search was performed on July 9th, 2020 in; PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Search terms related to: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, chronic pain, and eHealth. Extracted data concerned ACT content, design characteristics, adherence, and design rationales. Results: 20 articles, in which 14 interventions were described, met all inclusion criteria. Adherence and design rationales were described to a limited extent in the included studies. In total, the majority provided an overview of the included ACT processes. In 10 articles it was described that the intervention was delivered via a dedicated website (n = 10), which was sometimes combined with an app (n = 3). Guidance was included in most studies (n = 19). Studies including RCT's (n = 8) reported online ACT interventions to be effective. Conclusion: Online ACT interventions for chronic pain have been shown to be effective and have generally been constructed in line with ACT theory. However, the majority of studies does not provide information about the choices to optimize the fit between task, technology, and user. Considerations behind the choices for intervention features as well as design rationales could help to optimize future online ACT interventions. Additionally, consistent attention should be paid to measurement and operationalization of adherence, since this is a crucial link between content, design and effectiveness.

Published in Internet Interventions

ISSN: 2214-7829 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Technology (General): Industrial engineering. Management engineering: Information technology; Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/internet-interventions/

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