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The following is a summary of “Conversational Agents to Support Pain Management: A Scoping Review,” published in the April 2025 issue of European Journal of Pain by Souza et al. 

Pain-related conditions were a major cause of disability worldwide, with management challenges due to biopsychosocial factors and limited access to evidence-based treatments, while the effectiveness of digital health technologies like conversational agents (CAs) remained uncertain.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to assess the applications and effectiveness of CAs in adults supporting pain management, including those at risk, individuals experiencing pain, and healthcare providers or students.  

They systematically searched 6 databases—MEDLINE PubMed, ACM Digital Library, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane CENTRAL)—along with 5 trial registries from inception.  

The results showed that 28 studies were included, focusing on capturing health information (n=8), providing emotional support (n=7), facilitating adherence to self-management exercises (n=6), delivering psychological treatment (n=5), delivering organizational support (n=1), and educating healthcare providers (n=1). These studies addressed pain-related conditions, including dementia (n=7), cancer (n=5), and musculoskeletal disorders (n=4). None of the available CAs covered all 4 stages of translational research (development, feasibility, effectiveness, and implementation).  

Investigators concluded that the use of CAs in pain management was relatively new with diverse applications, but evidence for the effectiveness on pain outcomes remained limited and heterogeneous. 

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ejp.70016