title: Future implications of eHealth interventions for chronic pain management in underserved populations.
abstract: Many underserved communities, especially those in rural settings, face unique challenges that make high quality healthcare less accessible. The implementation of eHealth technologies has become a potentially valuable option to disseminate interventions. The authors' work in rural Alabama Federally Qualified Health Centers provide insights into the access to technology as well as the likelihood of utilizing eHealth technology in underserved communities. This paper will review current challenges related to digital dissemination of behavioral health interventions for chronic pain. Two major concerns are the lack of technological resources and the lack of appropriate materials for patients who may have low levels of reading, health and/or digital literacy. We will propose some recommendations to address common barriers faced by those providing care.
authors.affiliation: The University of Alabama, 348 Gordon Palmer Hall, 505 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348, USA.
authors.forename: Colette M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: DeMonte
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: DeMonte
authors.forename: Beverly E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Thorn
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D066310:Digital Divide; D057220:Health Literacy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D059408:Pain Management; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D017216:Telemedicine; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
keywords: chronic pain; eHealth; health literacy; low literacy; mHealth; pain management; technology-based care; underserved populations