Preferences and Participation Factors of a Web-Based Mind–Body Intervention for Chronic Orofacial Pain: A Qualitative Study

Brenda C Lovette,1,2 Nadine Levey,1 Kozbi Bayne Cliff,1 Jafar Bakhshaie,1,2 Ronald Kulich,3 Hsinlin Thomas Cheng,2,4 Shuhan He,2,5 Ana-Maria Vranceanu,1,2 Jonathan Greenberg1,2 1Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 2Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 3Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 4Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 5Lab of Computer Science, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USACorrespondence: Jonathan Greenberg, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, One Bowdoin Square, Suite 648, Boston, MA, 02114, USA, Email [email protected]: Chronic orofacial pain (COP) is associated with substantial pain interference and emotional distress. Psychosocial treatments for COP are scarce, rely on talking, which is often painful for this population, and require intensive resources. There is a clear need for a novel, scalable, accessible, “talk free” intervention to reduce pain interference and emotional distress among individuals with COP. This study explored people with COP’s perceptions of a novel mind-body web-based intervention targeting pain interference and emotional distress (Face-Forward-Web) to inform its development and optimization.Patients and Methods: We conducted semi-structured focus groups (N=4 groups, 22 participants; 77% female; mean age 47 (SD = 15.9)) and used Rapid Data Analysis (RDA) to gauge perceptions of the intervention’s content structure, format, and barriers and facilitators to participation.Results: Perception of the intervention was largely positive, and participants perceived its value for increasing engagement in life activities. They emphasized the importance of tailoring the intervention to the unique characteristics of COP. They expressed that the self-paced web-based format was ideal given unpredictable pain flares and variable needs. Concurrently, they desired social connection. They perceived the content and skills as helpful and relaxing. They identified barriers and facilitators to participation, including technical considerations, reminders and incentives, and providers setting up realistic expectations for outcomes.Conclusion: This study elucidates insights that can inform psychosocial and mind-body interventions for people with COP. Findings give voice to the needs and perceptions of people with COP, guiding the development of tailored, patient-informed treatment approaches such as Face-Forward-Web.Keywords: orofacial pain, qualitative analysis, intervention development, web-based intervention