Are Digital Clinics the Future of Persistent Pain Treatment

The societal and economic burden of chronic pain has been increasing in recent years, with a 2018 British Pain Society study estimating 8 million adults in the UK to be suffering from moderate to severely disabling chronic pain. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, with massive increases in treatment waiting times and an increase in prevalence of persistent pain observed. As a result, the problems associated with chronic pain treatment mentioned earlier have only been further exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Recent rapid advance in technology have led to the emergence of digital clinics, an alternative healthcare delivery method. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of digital clinics on reducing waiting times, patient costs and increasing satisfaction levels. A survey conducted by Leva Clinic, UK’s first CQC registered, fully research-led, centralised, digital and MDT led chronic pain clinic provided some insight into patient’s views of treatment provided by digital pain clinics. Whilst feedback from patients and other studies have shown digital clinics to be a viable alternative of traditional clinics, it brings its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It is therefore paramount that clinics consolidate various aspects of current pain management practice and bring together MDT members to a single point of access to provide patients with treatment that unites the advantages of traditional and digital clinics. It is our hope and goal that with proper regulation and management, digital clinics should support reducing the global burden and prevalence of chronic pain.