Are electronic diaries useful for symptoms research? A systematic review

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to evaluate electronic diaries as a tool for investigating associations between physical symptoms and psychological variables.MethodsA qualitative systematic review of electronic diary studies in pain and symptoms research was performed.ResultsStudies of electronic diary use report good acceptability and accuracy of data recording. A descriptive classification of the findings of electronic diary studies yielded five categories: experience, recording data when symptoms were present; interaction, testing the relationship between variables at different levels; sequential, observing associations at different time lags; process, recording possible mediating constructs such as catastrophization and self-efficacy; and intervention, recording during treatment to identify trends. Most data from diary studies suggest relatively weak associations between variables.ConclusionElectronic diaries are a potentially valuable tool for psychosomatic research. We suggest further possibilities for their use.