Get Involved

Patterns is a digital companion for people who experience chronic or persistent pain. We are inviting over 100 people in Northern Ireland to provide us with feedback on how useful the app is at helping you understand and self-manage your experience with pain.

Get involved

What is ‘Patterns’?

Patterns is a smartphone app for people who experience persistent pain. We hope that Patterns may help people better understand and self-manage their experience with pain.

It includes the ability to:

  • Set and track goals
  • Track your pain, mood, and activity levels
  • View ‘patterns’ in your experience with pain

It is currently under development, and is available on Android and iPhone devices.

What is the Patterns study?

We are inviting over 100 people in Northern Ireland to use Patterns for 4 months.

We would like to understand if Patterns provides any benefit to people who experience persistent pain.

If we can show benefit, we may be able to make Patterns available to people throughout Northern Ireland and beyond.

What would I be expected to do?

If you were to take part, you would be asked to:

  • Use Patterns for 4 months, on your own phone and in your own time.
  • Set a goal once every two weeks (2 minutes)
  • Complete one journal entry in the app per day (1 minute)
  • Complete 3 short questionnaires about your experience (10 minutes)

Participation is completely voluntary, and you are free to stop at any time.

Who can sign up to this trial?

We would be delighted for you to take part if:

  • You are aged 18 or older
  • You live in Northern Ireland
  • You are currently experiencing chronic or persistent pain that has lasted at least three months
  • You own an Android or Apple smartphone
  • You have access to a mobile phone network or Wi-Fi

Who is involved in Patterns?

Patterns is being developed in collaboration with the following organisations:

  • Big Motive
  • The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
  • The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
  • The Public Health Agency
  • Queen’s University Belfast
  • The Northern Ireland Regional Pain Forum
  • Versus Arthritis Northern Ireland

What will happen to data collected during my involvement?

Your involvement in this study will be completely anonymous. We may publish research reports that include your comments but your data will be anonymised. This means your name and identity will not be linked in our research reports to anything you say or do. All data will be processed in line with GDPR requirements. The data will be used to make any necessary improvements to the design of the app, and to demonstrate any potential impact it may have on individuals’ experience of living with pain.

Are there any risks involved in taking part?

Whilst there are no direct risks associated with taking part in this study, you will be asked to set yourself goals that focus on improving quality of life, movement, socialisation, and other areas. Participants in this study will set and engage with goals of their choice, at their own risk.  It is each participant’s responsibility to ensure that goals are attempted in a safe manner. We are not responsible for any injury or loss that may occur during the study.

How can I sign up?

If you are interested in participating in this trial, please let us know by completing an online expression of interest form here:

Get involved

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via email:
js@bigmotive.com