Using Personas in the development of eHealth interventions for chronic pain: A scoping review and narrative synthesis

Sara Laureen Bartels; Afra S Taygar; Sophie I Johnsson; Suzanne Petersson; Ida Flink; Katja Boersma; Lance M McCracken; Rikard K Wicksell

doi:10.1016/j.invent.2023.100619

Using Personas in the development of eHealth interventions for chronic pain: A scoping review and narrative synthesis

Internet Interv. 2023 Apr 3:32:100619. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2023.100619. eCollection 2023 Apr.

Authors

Sara Laureen Bartels¹, Afra S Taygar^{1

2}, Sophie I Johnsson¹, Suzanne Petersson³, Ida Flink⁴, Katja Boersma⁴, Lance M McCracken⁵, Rikard K Wicksell^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
² Institute of Social Sciences, Uskudar University, Istanbul, Turkey.
³ Department of Medicine and Optometry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Region Kalmar County, Sweden.
⁴ Center for Health and Medical Psychology (CHAMP), School of Law, Psychology, and Social Work, Örebro University, Sweden.
⁵ Division of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
⁶ Pain clinic, Capio St. Göran Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract

Objectives: Behavioral eHealth interventions can enhance self-management and improve well-being in people with chronic pain. The development of these interventions calls for a user-centered approach to ensure that patient needs are appreciated. However, it may be challenging to involve patients; particularly during the early stages of the process. Fictional user profiles, known as Personas, can represent needs and guide designing eHealth interventions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the use of Personas in the development of behavioral eHealth interventions for people with chronic pain with the aim to identify benefits and challenges.

Methods: Bibliographic databases (Medline, Web of Science Core Collection, PsycInfo, CINAHL) and registries (PubMed Central, medaRxiv) were systematically searched. In a double-reviewing process, n = 6830 hits and n = 351 full-texts were screened and read. Ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2022 were included in the narrative synthesis.

Findings: Ten studies reported using "Pain Personas" in the development of eHealth interventions for such purposes as to gain a shared understanding of the user and to discuss solutions in team meetings, or for patients to identify with (if Personas are included in the intervention). Personas were based on qualitative and/or quantitative data. However, the procedure for creating Personas was only described in half of the included studies (n = 5). These five studies provided descriptive details of the Personas (i.e., picture, name, narrative of their pain behavior, technological skills, and motivation).

Conclusions: Although Personas have been used by pain researchers in recent projects and were highlighted as an important ingredient in the development process, available design guidelines for the creation and use of Personas are not followed or communicated transparently. Benefits and challenges when using Personas in the development of eHealth interventions for people with chronic pain are discussed to support future eHealth efforts and to improve the quality of eHealth innovation in the field of pain.

Keywords: Chronic pain; Development; Internet; Intervention; Personas; User research.

Publication types

Review