Robin Conen, Nikolai Hepke, Jörg Lohscheller, Steffen Mueller, Ana N Tibubos
{"title":"Feasibility and user experience of augmented reality psychoeducation and mindfulness body scan for chronic low back pain.","authors":"Robin Conen, Nikolai Hepke, Jörg Lohscheller, Steffen Mueller, Ana N Tibubos","doi":"10.3389/fpain.2025.1600637","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is prevalent and a multimodal therapy is indicated, including psychological treatment. Effective conventional treatments involve psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scans, while virtual reality offers superior but temporary pain relief. Augmented Reality (AR), which combines conventional and virtual methods, is a novel therapeutic strategy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We investigated the viability and acceptability of an AR intervention for CLBP by incorporating psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scan techniques. 40 participants in two studies with a one-arm design underwent an educational AR intervention (Study I, <i>n</i> <sub>1</sub> = 18) and an enhanced version with an additional body scan (Study II, <i>n</i> <sub>2</sub> = 22). The studies focused on evaluating technical feasibility and multiple facets of user experience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results demonstrated high feasibility with low dropout rates (Study I: 10%, Study II: 0%). User experience ratings ranged from \"Above Average\" to \"Excellent,\" with the advanced intervention receiving higher ratings. While Study I showed no significant changes in affect pre- vs. post-intervention, Study II exhibited a significant reduction in negative affect and improved valence. Qualitative analysis provided insights into technical requirements and user perceptions.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The AR prototype emerges as a promising psychoeducational tool for CLBP, aligning with current treatment guidelines and providing a basis for future controlled clinical trials. Limitations include the absence of a high-pain intervention group, as Study I reported a pain intensity of <i>M</i> = 1.05 and Study II reported <i>M</i> = 1.77 (Range: 0-10). Further research such as clinical trials with control groups is required to validate the efficacy of the piloted approach. The AR-based psychoeducation and mindfulness body scan intervention for CLBP demonstrated technical feasibility and a good user experience.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>Open Science Framework.io; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DSW5X and https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/XVJBZ.</p>","PeriodicalId":73097,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","volume":"6 ","pages":"1600637"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12281825/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland)","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpain.2025.1600637","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is prevalent and a multimodal therapy is indicated, including psychological treatment. Effective conventional treatments involve psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scans, while virtual reality offers superior but temporary pain relief. Augmented Reality (AR), which combines conventional and virtual methods, is a novel therapeutic strategy.
Methods: We investigated the viability and acceptability of an AR intervention for CLBP by incorporating psychoeducation and mindfulness-based body scan techniques. 40 participants in two studies with a one-arm design underwent an educational AR intervention (Study I, n1 = 18) and an enhanced version with an additional body scan (Study II, n2 = 22). The studies focused on evaluating technical feasibility and multiple facets of user experience.
Results: The results demonstrated high feasibility with low dropout rates (Study I: 10%, Study II: 0%). User experience ratings ranged from "Above Average" to "Excellent," with the advanced intervention receiving higher ratings. While Study I showed no significant changes in affect pre- vs. post-intervention, Study II exhibited a significant reduction in negative affect and improved valence. Qualitative analysis provided insights into technical requirements and user perceptions.
Discussion: The AR prototype emerges as a promising psychoeducational tool for CLBP, aligning with current treatment guidelines and providing a basis for future controlled clinical trials. Limitations include the absence of a high-pain intervention group, as Study I reported a pain intensity of M = 1.05 and Study II reported M = 1.77 (Range: 0-10). Further research such as clinical trials with control groups is required to validate the efficacy of the piloted approach. The AR-based psychoeducation and mindfulness body scan intervention for CLBP demonstrated technical feasibility and a good user experience.
Clinical trial registration: Open Science Framework.io; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DSW5X and https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/XVJBZ.
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