Participant perspectives on benefits and challenges of engaging in an online pain self-management program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate participants' perspectives after engaging in an 8-week online pain self-management program. Unexplored qualitative data for this analysis were collected via secure online surveys distributed during a previously published randomized controlled trial. Participants for the present study were 47 adults prescribed opioid medicines for chronic pain. A qualitative descriptive approach using content analysis methods was used to identify common themes regarding online participation. Three themes described the benefits of the program and included: Positive reframing, improved accountability, and feeling supported. Two themes described how participants would like to improve the program experience and included: Ease of use and desire for personalizing. Participants' insights can assist health care providers and program developers in understanding how online programs may improve chronic disease self-management for a multitude of health problems.