HelloBetter® Chronic Pain

Product Overview

Medical condition:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain is a transdiagnostic treatment, and is available on prescription to adults who have been suffering from chronic pain for at least three months and meet the criteria for one of the following ICD-10 diagnoses: F45.40 Persistent somatoform pain disorder, F45.41 Chronic pain disorder with somatic and psychological factors and M79.7 Fibromyalgia.

Target patient population:

Chronic pain patients over the age of 18 who wish to overcome their pain.

What to expect:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain is a 12-week program that is structured into 7 units. Each unit takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.

Note: for more information, please visit https://hellobetter.de/en/online-courses/chronic-pain/

Clinical Overview

Indications for use:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain is a digital therapeutic program aimed at reducing pain interference for individuals with chronic pain.

Outcomes:

Participants reported a sustained reduction in pain interference, an increase in pain acceptance, as well as an improved quality of life.

Directions:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain delivers well-founded psychoeducation via text, video and audio recordings, and teaches the well-established methods of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). These include mindfulness and self-reflection exercises, cognitive restructuring and values-based work. The exercises are taught throughout the units and can be integrated into everyday life. Goals are set and formulated in such a way that they are specific, realistic and achievable. It is a 12-week program that is structured into 7 units. Each unit takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete. In addition to the course units and practical exercises, the program grants access to an online journal and recurring symptom checks to record, monitor and evaluate one’s own progress.

Risks & warnings:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain may not be suitable for people without internet, wifi, a mobile or desktop device. This digital therapeutic was developed and evaluated on adults aged 18 years and older.

Place in therapy:

Complementary to therapy or as a standalone solution. The program is also suitable for bridging the waiting time for a place in psychotherapy and as support after treatment has been completed.

Product Access

Product description:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain is accessible through mobile and web.

Prescription status:

A prescription is not required. In Germany, it has been listed as a digital health application (‘DiGA’), meaning that a diagnosis or prescription leads to universal reimbursement. However, individuals without a diagnosis can access the program through self-pay, or via their care provider.

Patient access:

Eligible users can access the program online or through the HelloBetter app on iOS or Android devices.

Use of this product requires access to:

• Internet or wifi
• and a mobile phone, tablet, or computer

Provider access:

Full provider access is given if providers (e.g. clinic) purchase HelloBetter through their ‘Software-As-A-Service’ offering, which allows providers to add patients, choose products for patients, guide the patients, through the product via messages, chat, and regular feedback, etc. Patients may choose to export their information via a downloadable file to certain healthcare providers. This file contains all relevant information on patient progress and symptoms and can be integrated with major EHRs going forward.

Coverage options:

In Germany, HelloBetter Chronic Pain is eligible for prescription and covered by statutory health insurance in Germany – making it available free of charge to over 73 million people.

Product availability:

HelloBetter Chronic Pain is available in:  

• Germany: Class I CE mark (MDR)
• Switzerland: Class I CE mark (MDR)
• Austria: Class I CE mark (MDR)

Clinical Trials

The provided set of evidence represents a sample of conducted studies. For a comprehensive collection contact manufacturers directly.

• Study Title: HelloBetter Chronic Pain Study (publication in preparation)
  –  2024
  Study Design: Randomized controlled trial
  Outcomes: The results show that individuals treated with HelloBetter Chronic Pain experienced significantly lower degrees of pain interference than the control group. Study participants reported an increase in emotional dealing with and accepting the pain, as well as an improved quality of life. The effects sustained in the intervention group after 6 and 12 months, the control group got access to HelloBetter Chronic Pain and showed substantial improvements as well.
• Study Title: An Internet-Based Intervention for Chronic Pain. A three-arm randomized controlled study of the effectiveness of guided and unguided acceptance and commitment therapy –  2017
  Study Design: Three-Arm randomize controlled trial (guided, unguided and control group)
  Outcomes: Study participants were assigned to one of three groups: 1) guided program 2) unguided program 3) waitlist control group. Both intervention groups had significantly lower degrees of pain interference after using HelloBetter Chronic Pain compared to the control group. On average, pain interference was reduced by 20.4 % in the guided and 10.7 % in the unguided intervention group after 9 weeks. After 6 months, the reduction in pain interference increased to 21.9 % for the participants who used the guided program and 15.3 % for those who used the unguided program.

Note: for more research, please visit https://hellobetter.de/en/research/