Table 2 Baseline values of self-reported outcomes related to disease vs app use during study (weeks 1–24) and post-study period (weeks 25–36)

Financial Hardship (n = 268)

After paying the bills, you still have enough money for special things that you want

80 (29.9)

42.0 (42.3)

13.2 (20.4)

You have enough money to pay the bills, but little spare money to buy extra or special things

115 (42.9)

34.6 (40.5)

12.7 (21.9)

You have money to pay bills, but only because you have to cut back on things

42 (15.7)

30.7 (41.7)

9.9 19.9)

You are having difficulty paying the bills, no matter what you do

31 (11.6)

27.2 (35.4)

7.3 (17.0)

Health Literacy (how often did you need to have someone help you…) (n = 273)

n (%)

Never

165 (60.4)

39.2 (43.6)

13.0 (20.9)

Rarely

65 (23.8)

21.1 (31.1)

7.9 (17.4)

Sometimes

32 (11.7)

43.3 (41.5)

16.5 (26.5)

Often

5 (1.8)

27.0 (33.2)

0.40 (0.89)

Always

6 (2.2)

42.8 (51.9)

12.3 (20.8)

Pain frequency (n = 277)

I did not have a pain attack in the past 12 months

37 (13.4)

40.5 (47.9)

15.6 (25.7)

1

36 (13.0)

45.8 (50.9)

17.8 (24.1)

2

46 (16.6)

25.1 (30.3)

10.5 (20.2)

3

32 (11.6)

44.2 (46.9)

12.4 (18.8)

4 or more

126 (45.5)

32.5 (37.4)

9.5 (18.3)

Pain Severity of most recent pain episode (n = 273)

No to mild pain (0–4)

17 (6.2)

61.4 (47.6)

25.9 (27.8)

Moderate pain (5–7)

68 (24.9%)

38.4 (40.8)

12.1 (19.1)

Severe pain (8–10)

188 (68.9%)

32.0 (40.2)

10.8 (20.3)

Self-efficacy cumulative scores (8 questions, lowest 0 to highest 32, n = 284)

Group 1 (score: 0–8)

14 (4.9%)

13.8 (22.8)

8.4 (19.2)

Group 2 (9–16)

18 (6.3%)

25.5 (37.7)

7.8 (14.0)

Group 3 (17–24)

72 (25.4%)

29.6 (37.7)

9.9 (18.3)

Group 4 (25–32)

180 (63.4%)

39.3 (43.1)

13.0 (21.9)