%0 Journal Article %@ 2373-6658 %I JMIR Publications %V 9 %N %P e64415 %T Disparities in Clinical and Experimental Pain Between Non-Hispanic White and Asian American Individuals With Knee Osteoarthritis and the Role of Pain Catastrophizing: Pilot Study in Florida %A Lee,Chiyoung %A Kwoh,C. Kent %A Park,Juyoung %A Park,Lindsey %A Ahn,Hyochol %+ College of Nursing, University of Arizona, 1305 N Martin Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85721, United States, 1 5206266154, clee33@arizona.edu %K Asian American %K non-Hispanic White %K osteoarthritis %K pain %K pain catastrophizing %D 2025 %7 25.2.2025 %9 Original Paper %J Asian Pac Isl Nurs J %G English %X Background: Although a few studies have delineated the disparities in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) pain between non-Hispanic White and Asian American individuals, a significant research gap persists in elucidating the mechanisms underlying these differences. Objective: This pilot study aims to examine psychological factors, specifically pain catastrophizing and negative affect, as potential explanatory mechanisms for these dissimilarities. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. Forty community-dwelling participants aged 50-70 years with self-reported KOA pain, including 20 non-Hispanic White and 20 Asian American individuals, were recruited in North Central Florida. Clinical KOA pain intensity was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and the 4 subscales of the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2. Quantitative sensory testing was conducted to measure experimental sensitivity to heat- and mechanically induced pain, including heat pain, pressure pain threshold, and punctate mechanical pain, as well as inhibitory pain processes through conditioned pain modulation. Pain catastrophizing was evaluated using the Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised Pain Catastrophizing subscale, while negative affect was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Bayesian mediation analyses were used to examine both direct and indirect effects (mediation) between variables. Results: Asian American individuals exhibited higher pain catastrophizing scores than non-Hispanic White individuals. Pain catastrophizing, at high levels, contributed to WOMAC and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2, which measured clinical pain. Race had no direct effects on these pain scores but exerted significant indirect effects via pain catastrophizing (WOMAC pain: 0.96, 95% CI 0.03-2.16; continuous pain: 0.84, 95% CI 0.18-1.70; intermittent pain: 0.78, 95% CI 0.03-1.71; neuropathic pain: 0.43, 95% CI 0.03-0.95; and affective pain: 1.05, 95% CI 0.24-1.99); thus, pain catastrophizing likely fully mediated the relationship between race and these pain measures. While Asian American individuals reported greater experimental pain sensitivity (heat pain, pressure pain threshold, and punctate mechanical pain) than non-Hispanic White individuals, these racial effects were not mediated by pain catastrophizing. Asian American individuals reported higher negative affect scores compared with non-Hispanic White individuals; however, negative affect did not mediate the relationship between race and any pain measures. Conclusions:  The results demonstrate the contribution of pain catastrophizing to clinical pain in Asian American individuals with KOA and identify it as a potential mechanism underlying group differences in KOA pain between non-Hispanic White and Asian American individuals. However, caution is warranted due to the exploratory nature of this study and the treatment of Asian American individuals as a monolithic sample. Hence, future replication with larger and more diverse samples is necessary. Additionally, the lack of mediation effects of pain catastrophizing in the relationship between race and experimental pain suggests the need to explore other factors, such as biological, genetic, social, and environmental influences. Moreover, further research is essential to clarify the role of negative affect. %M 39999436 %R 10.2196/64415 %U https://apinj.jmir.org/2025/1/e64415 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/64415 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39999436 %0 Journal Article %@ 2561-326X %I JMIR Publications %V 8 %N %P e60731 %T Minimal Clinically Important Differences With the Outcomes of the App-Based Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Diseases Quality of Life Questionnaire: Cross-Sectional Observational Study %A Nagino,Ken %A Sung,Jaemyoung %A Midorikawa-Inomata,Akie %A Akasaki,Yasutsugu %A Adachi,Takeya %A Ebihara,Nobuyuki %A Fukuda,Ken %A Fukushima,Atsuki %A Fujio,Kenta %A Okumura,Yuichi %A Eguchi,Atsuko %A Fujimoto,Keiichi %A Shokirova,Hurramhon %A Yee,Alan %A Morooka,Yuki %A Huang,Tianxiang %A Hirosawa,Kunihiko %A Nakao,Shintaro %A Kobayashi,Hiroyuki %A Inomata,Takenori %+ Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Tokyo, 1130033, Japan, 81 338133111, tinoma@juntendo.ac.jp %K allergic conjunctivitis %K hay fever %K Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire %K minimal clinically important difference %K pollinosis %K telemedicine %K mobile phone %D 2024 %7 26.11.2024 %9 Original Paper %J JMIR Form Res %G English %X Background: Assessing changes in quality of life in patients with hay fever–related allergic conjunctivitis requires validated and clinically meaningful metrics. A minimal clinically important difference (MCID) that can be applied to assess Domain II of the Japanese Allergic Conjunctival Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (JACQLQ) in a smartphone app setting has yet to be determined. Objective: This cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine MCIDs for the app-based JACQLQ in assessing hay fever–related allergic conjunctivitis. Methods: This study used data from a crowdsourced, cross-sectional, observational study conducted via the smartphone app “AllerSearch” between February 1, 2018, and May 1, 2020. Participants were recruited through digital media and social networking platforms and voluntarily provided electronic informed consent. Participants completed the JACQLQ, which includes items on daily activity and psychological well-being, as well as a visual analog scale to measure stress levels related to hay fever. Data were collected through the app, ensuring comprehensive user input. MCIDs were determined using both anchor- and distribution-based methods. The face scale of the JACQLQ Domain III and stress level scale for hay fever were used as anchors to estimate the MCID; ranges were derived from these MCID estimates. In the distribution-based method, MCIDs were calculated using half the SD and SE of the JACQLQ Domain II scores. SEs were derived from the intraclass correlation coefficient of an app-based JACQLQ test-retest reliability metric. Results: A total of 17,597 individuals were identified, of which 15,749 individuals provided electronic consent. After excluding those with incomplete data, 7590 participants with hay fever were included in the study (mean age 35.3, SD 13.9 years; n=4331, 57.1% of women). MCID ranges calculated using the anchor-based method were 1.0-6.9, 1.2-5.6, and 2.1-12.6 for daily activity, psychological well-being, and total JACQLQ Domain II scores, respectively. Using the distribution-based method, the intraclass correlation coefficients were odds ratio (OR) 0.813 (95% CI 0.769-0.849) for daily activity, OR 0.791 (95% CI 0.743-0.832) for psychological well-being, and OR 0.841 (95% CI 0.791-0.864) for total JACQLQ Domain II scores. In addition, the distribution-based method resulted in 2 MCIDs based on half the SD and SE of measurement for daily activity (4.8 and 4.2), psychological well-being (3.4 and 3.1), and total JACQLQ Domain II (7.8 and 6.4) scores. The final suggested MCID ranges for daily activity, psychological well-being, and total JACQLQ Domain II scores were 4.2-6.0, 3.1-4.7, and 6.4-10.5, respectively. Conclusions: MCID ranges for the JACQLQ estimation could help to standardize the app-based quality of life assessment for patients with hay fever–related allergic conjunctivitis. These MCIDs enhanced the precision of remote symptom monitoring and facilitated timely, data-driven interventions, ultimately improving the overall management and outcomes of allergic conjunctivitis through mobile health platforms. %M 39591609 %R 10.2196/60731 %U https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e60731 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/60731 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39591609 %0 Journal Article %@ 1929-0748 %I JMIR Publications %V 13 %N %P e54970 %T Combination of Curcuminoids and Acupressure for Inflammation and Pain in Older People with Osteoarthritis Genu: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial %A Mahanani,Srinalesti %A Kertia,Nyoman %A Madyaningrum,Ema %+ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl Kesehatan Sendowo No 1, Sendowo, Sinduadi, Kec. Mlati, Kabupaten Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia, 62 274 545458, nyoman.kertia@ugm.ac.id %K osteoarthritis %K acupressure %K curcuminoids %K endorphins %K biomarkers %K genu %K older people %K randomized controlled trial %D 2024 %7 24.6.2024 %9 Protocol %J JMIR Res Protoc %G English %X Background: Curcuminoids and acupressure have beneficial effects in reducing pain and inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis. However, only a few clinical trials are investigating biomarkers to prove this objectively. Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of acupressure and curcuminoids on inflammatory markers and pain in older people with osteoarthritis genu. Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted among older people with osteoarthritis. All participants were randomized to a group that received 30 mg of curcuminoids in turmeric extract capsules and acupressure (group 1) or a group that received a placebo and sham acupressure (group 2) for 3 weeks. Results: The study was approved by the research ethics board; ClinicalTrials.gov reviewed this protocol. The extracts were manufactured from May 2023 to June 2023. Participant recruitment was conducted in September and October 2023; a total of 72 participants aged 60 years or older participated, of whom 75% (n=54) were female. Data were analyzed in April 2024, and dissemination of results is expected by the end of 2024. Conclusions: Primary outcomes were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. Relationships were assessed with inflammatory markers, endorphin hormones, and blood level of cycloxygenase-2 hormone. Additionally, secondary outcomes included pain, ability to perform activities of daily living, and quality of life. The beneficial effects that may be found in this trial may be exceptionally relevant in clinical practice, justifying this scientific inquiry. The benefits of herbs and acupressure can be helpful as additional options in treating inflammation and pain in patients with osteoarthritis. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06105840; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06105840 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/54970 %M 38771152 %R 10.2196/54970 %U https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e54970 %U https://doi.org/10.2196/54970 %U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38771152