EndoSMS and EndoMusic: acceptability and feasibility of accessible tailored digital interventions for people with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic, incurable condition with debilitating physical and psychological symptoms. Although effective psychological interventions exist to alleviate these symptoms, they can be costly, inaccessible, and difficult to maintain long-term for people with endometriosis (PWE). Therefore, there is a need for accessible, inexpensive, and tailored interventions. The current project focuses on the development, feasibility and acceptability of two accessible digital interventions: music listening and psychologically focused text messaging. Both interventions have shown efficacy in improving psychological and physical outcomes (such as pain) in chronic conditions. A mixed methods pilot of a tailored music listening intervention (EndoMusic) was run with Australian adults with endometriosis (N = 14) to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility in this novel population. Descriptive statistics found high acceptability and feasibility of EndoMusic; however, low uptake of the study reflected a broader need to increase psychoeducation of novel interventions in PWE. Thematic analysis of free-text responses emphasised the likeability, accessibility, and ability to personalise EndoMusic. However, findings also indicated the need to incorporate reminders, inclusion of multiple playlists to suit different moods and symptoms, and the importance of flexibility regarding when and how the intervention is implemented. Additionally, a mixed methods co-design study was undertaken with consumers (n = 5) and clinical experts (n = 5) to provide feedback on 224 newly developed text messages to address the feedback from the pilot of EndoSMS, a text message intervention for PWE. Extending from original themes and creating new themes, the new messages were rated high on acceptability, appropriateness and readability, forming a part of the tailored EndoSMS library. The combined findings show acceptability and feasibility of EndoMusic and EndoSMS as well as highlight the opportunity to create a combined intervention to provide an accessible digital intervention that would provide psychological support to PWE.