By: Allison Currie
Effective pain management plays a crucial role in healthcare. When pain is inadequately managed, it can lead to longer hospital stays, extended recovery periods, an increased risk of opioid misuse or addiction and poor surgical outcomes.
Dr. Emily Johnston, a Clinical Pharmacist in the department of Orthopedic Surgery in Nova Scotia Health, and Pharmacist, Innovation Champion at the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub is no stranger to pain management. Through her extensive experience on the trauma unit caring for orthopedic surgery patients, she has a deep commitment to empowering patients to take control of their pain, while ensuring effective communication between patients and healthcare providers.
Most recently, this passion has led to the creation of the Pain Coach App, which provides users with access to non-pharmaceutical resources for pain and anxiety management, such as guided imagery, breathing exercises, and instructional videos, while also supporting the use of medications.
The newly created app is on track to enter clinical trials this fall. Enrolled through NovaStudies Connect, a select group of participants will be patients recovering from hip, knee or shoulder surgeries at the Dartmouth General Hospital and the Halifax Infirmary.
Running for one year, the study aims to evaluate the app's effectiveness in reducing pain and opioid use while maintaining positive pain management outcomes.
As a pharmacist with no technical experience, developing an app was a new challenge for Dr. Johnston.
“I worked on the concepts for the app for over a year, with eight months of that spent in daily meetings with coders as we developed each individual feature.” Says Johnston. “This was a steep learning curve for me, and I hope I can inspire others who may have innovative healthcare ideas but lack the technical experience. Digital health solutions are really at the forefront of their adoption and I’m excited to be part of that.”
Research such as this can’t happen without funding. In building the app, Dr. Johnston was fortunate to access funding via the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Catalyst Fund, the Invest Nova Scotia Early Commercialization Fund, a 2023 QEII Foundation Innovation Den Award and the Life Sciences Technical Assistance program.
The clinical trial itself will be funded through the John and Judy Bragg Innovation Fund via the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation which Dr. Johnston co-applied for with Dr. Jennifer Leighton, principal investigator of the study.
Ultimately, Dr. Johnston envisions the Pain Coach app being adopted across Nova Scotia Health as a standard of care for all arthroplasty patients, helping them feel more supported in managing their pain after surgery, and offering a new resource for pain management.
Research is care, and clinical studies help translate research into potentially life-changing therapies that can help you, your friends and your loved ones. Want to know more about how to get involved? Visit Nova Studies Connect today: novastudiesconnect.ca
