MeMoS - Management, Empowerment, and Mastery of Symptoms

People with chronic diseases often need support to adapt to life with persistent pain. Many individuals with chronic pain lack the knowledge and resources needed to improve their quality of life. Existing services are limited and often involve long waiting times.

Purpose

The MeMoS project seeks to develop and test a digital concept designed to support rehabilitation through interactive knowledge sharing, tools, and exercises. The goal is to enhance the quality of life for people living with chronic pain, prevent their condition from worsening, and reduce related complications such as functional impairment, anxiety, and depression.

The Digital Health Centre

The project will be implemented through partnership with twenty municipalities, three patient associations, and one regional organization, all part of the Digital Health Centre. The centre currently supports self-management for individuals with chronic conditions, and pain management will be added to the range of services.

In spring 2022, a steering and project group will be established, involving Varde, Faaborg-Midtfyn, and Ærø municipalities, along with the association for chronic pain patients (FAKS). In developing the service, additional organizations working with pain patients will be invited to help refine the concept and its content.

Health Innovation Centre of Southern Denmark will play a coordinating role in developing, testing, and disseminating the concept. Overall project management will be handled by Project Manager Carsten Jensen, who previously managed the Digital Diabetes project. 

Our prior experience shows that effective solutions are created in collaboration with municipalities, patient associations, and the individuals who use the solutions. Knowledge sharing and co-creation will be essential in this project as well.

Identification of needs

Who is the target audience for a digital chronic pain management service, and which needs should the solution address? To explore these questions, interviews were conducted with several experts, professionals, and individuals living with chronic pain. This led to the creation of seven personas, initial suggestions for content, and a set of expert insights.

Data was gathered during a kick-off workshop along with interviews involving eight individuals managing chronic pain, two experts, and four healthcare professionals.

Funding

A grant of 2.5 million DKK from the health insurance ‘danmark’ enables the project to offer individuals with chronic pain a digital pain management program through the app “Mit Liv – Min Sundhed” (My Life – My Health). Such a digital offering can be initiated independently or with the assistance of municipal professionals, providing individuals with chronic pain greater flexibility to tailor their program to their specific needs, motivations, and daily routines.

Project Duration

The project runs from January 1, 2022, to April 30, 2024.