By InvitationNot Applicable

Patient Centered Post-Op Pain Management Software Tool Interventional Study Verses Standard of Care

Canada1,000 participantsStarted 2025-01-07

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the Pain Coach App will result in less opioids being prescribed to and used by patients undergoing Shoulder/Hip/Knee Arthroplasty surgery while maintaining the same or better pain control versus standard of care. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Will elective shoulder, hip and knee arthroplasty patients using PainCoach App be prescribed and/or use less opioids, measured by total morphine milliequivalents (MME) after surgery when compared to those treated as standard of care while maintaining similar pain control? 2. Will arthroplasty surgeons using PainCoach App write more patient-specific prescriptions resulting in a reduction in opioids prescribed after surgery with no increase in further opioids prescribed in the months following surgery? 3. Will the use of Pain Coach App lead to equal or reduced healthcare system utilization after surgery? 4. Will patients and surgeons using PainCoach App find it helpful enough to use it again and recommend to colleagues, family and friends? Researchers will compare participants assigned to use Pain Coach App vs participants assigned to standard of care arm to see if there are differences in opioid prescriptions and self reported use. Participants will either use the Pain Coach App or follow standard of care instructions and be followed forward for the opioid prescriptions dispensed in community and self-reported opioids use at study end.

Who can participate

Age range

19 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Elective total shoulder (day surgery only), hip or knee arthroplasty completed within NSH, starting at the HI or DGH * OR date for surgery is known and booked * Able to access the internet via mobile device (has access to smart phone) * If expresses concern about low tech IQ, has a support person available * Able to read and write in English Exclusion Criteria: * Non-elective arthroplasty surgery procedures (trauma, fractures) * Bilateral knee or hip arthroplasty * Unable to read or write in English * Lacks capacity to provide consent due to cognitive impairment * No access to internet or mobile device to use self-help pain management tools * Inpatient Shoulder arthroplasty as residents write these discharge prescriptions

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Opioid Prescriptions Efficacy Information

Timeframe: At discharge, 2 weeks, 1 and 3 months after surgery.

Pain Related Adverse Effects

Timeframe: Post Operative Day 2 and 30

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06469177

SponsorNova Scotia Health Authority

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-09

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Post-operative Pain, Acute trials