title: Novel telemedicine technologies in geriatric chronic non-cancer pain: primary care providers' perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to identify primary care providers' interest in, as well as perceived barriers and facilitators to, using novel telemedicine technologies (e.g., smartphones) for managing chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) in older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups were conducted with 25 primary care providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two academically affiliated primary care practices serving older adults with CNCP in New York City.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigators used content analysis to analyze transcribed focus group data and identify specific themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  While most providers reported limited use of telemedicine, they expressed substantial interest in trying devices such as smartphones in the management of older patients with CNCP. Perceived barriers to implementation of telemedicine tools included information overload, lack of mobile device usability among patients and clinicians, liability issues, and cost. To overcome these barriers, participants suggested implementing electronic or human-based pre-analysis of data (e.g., a computer or a person that triages patient data), creating a low-cost and user-friendly mobile device design, and targeting appropriate user populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary care providers are interested in applying telemedicine when caring for older adults with CNCP. Although they perceived multiple barriers to device implementation, they offered innovative solutions to address these barriers. Providers felt that novel telemedicine technologies may improve the management of CNCP but wanted evidence that the devices were both cost- and time-efficient, and led to improved patient outcomes before adopting their use in practice.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Mimi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granieri
authors.forename: M Cary
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain; D017144:Focus Groups; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Chronic Non-Cancer Pain; Older Adults; Primary Care; Telemedicine