A1 Journal article (refereed)
Study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness, cost-utility, and physiological effects of a fully self-guided digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Spanish patients with fibromyalgia (2024)
Gallego, A., Serrat, M., Royuela-Colomer, E., Sanabria-Mazo, J. P., Borràs, X., Esteve, M., Grasa, M., Rosa, A., Rozadilla-Sacanell, A., Almirall, M., D’Amico, F., Dai, Y., Rosenbluth, M. J., McCracken, L. M., Navarrete, J., Feliu-Soler, A., & Luciano, J. V. (2024). Study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness, cost-utility, and physiological effects of a fully self-guided digital Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Spanish patients with fibromyalgia. Digital Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241239177
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Gallego, Ana; Serrat, Mayte; Royuela-Colomer, Estíbaliz; Sanabria-Mazo, Juan P.; Borràs, Xavier; Esteve, Montserrat; Grasa, Mar; Rosa, Araceli; Rozadilla-Sacanell, Antoni; Almirall, Miriam; et al.
Journal or series: Digital Health
eISSN: 2055-2076
Publication year: 2024
Publication date: 27/03/2024
Volume: 10
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241239177
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open Access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94474
Publication is parallel published: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10976514/
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent pain syndrome with significant healthcare and societal costs. The aim of the SMART-FM-SP study is to determine the effectiveness, cost-utility, and physiological effects in patients with FM of a digital intervention (STANZA®) currently marketed in the United States, which delivers smartphone-based, fully self-guided Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Digital ACT) for treating FM-related symptoms.
Methods
A single-site, parallel-group, superiority, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be conducted, including a total of 360 adults diagnosed with FM. Individuals will be randomly allocated (1:1:1) to treatment as usual (TAU), to TAU plus 12 weeks of treatment with Digital ACT, or to TAU plus 12 weeks of treatment with digital symptom tracking (i.e. FibroST). Participants will be assessed at baseline, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. An intention-to-treat analysis using linear mixed models will be computed to analyze the effects of Digital ACT on functional impairment (primary outcome), as measured by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire Revised at 6 months from the inception of the treatment. Secondary outcomes include impression of change, symptoms of distress, pain catastrophising, quality of life, cost-utility, and selected biomarkers (cortisol and cortisone, immune-inflammatory markers, and FKBP5 gene polymorphisms). The role of ACT-related processes of change will be tested with path analyses.
Conclusions
This study is the first RCT that tests Digital ACT for Spanish patients with FM. Results will be important not only for patients and clinicians, but also for policy makers by examining the cost-utility of the app in a public healthcare context.
Keywords: fibromyalgia; chronic pain; acceptance and commitment therapy; treatment methods; mobile apps; smartphones; biomarkers; cost effectiveness; randomised controlled trials
applications; smartphone
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Preliminary JUFO rating: 1
