Being a teen living with sickle cell disease can be challenging - but you’re not alone.

iCanCope with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a free app made with youth, for youth (ages 12–18) living with SCD. It helps you manage pain, stress, and prepare for adult healthcare. We’re running a new study to learn how to get the app into more hands—at clinics and in communities across Canada. This site shows you how to get the app (open to everyone) and join the study (if you're at a participating clinic). Explore to learn more!

How iCanCope Helps

Track your pain, sleep, mood, and activity levels.

Set personal goals to improve your function.

Learn new ways to cope with pain and stress.

Practice skills to get ready to switch to adult healthcare.

Connect with other youth living with SCD.

Create and share progress reports to see how you are doing over time.

How to Get the App

The iCanCope with SCD app is publicly available for free to anyone through 2 easy steps

Step 1: Download the App

Get the iCanCope with SCD app from your device's app store.

Step 2: Find Your Access Code

Find your access code and enter it into the app when you are signing up

Get My Access Code

Join the Research Study •

Join the Research Study •

If you are a patient at one of the participating SCD clinics, you may be eligible to join our new iCanCope research study. Benefits of the study include:

  • Earn community service (volunteer) hours;

  • Chance to try out new app features before they are public;

  • Share ideas of how the app can be improved to help other youth living with SCD;

  • Thank you gift card.

Join the Study

Research Evidence

iCanCope isn’t just another app—it’s been carefully developed and tested through years of research. Check out the studies below to see why and how iCanCope works.

Study 1: Co-Design

We talked to youth with SCD to figure out what they needed from a new self-management app. They wanted the app to help track their symptoms, learn new ways to cope with pain and stress, and get ready for the switch to adult healthcare

Read More

Study 2: Clinical Trial

We ran a clinical trial with youth in Canada and the United States who have SCD-related pain where 111 youth were randomized to use either the iCanCope app or SCD education. The iCanCope group reported lower pain scores and less frequent pain.

Read More

Study 3: App Engagement

We looked at how youth with SCD engaged with different features of the app. The most popular features were Goals and Symptom Trends. Almost all (92%) youth wanted to keep using the app and most youth (83%) would recommend the app.

Read More

  • "It made me feel like it was made for people my age."

    Youth with SCD, Age 13

  • "It's really just like a peaceful app."

    Youth with SCD, Age 13

  • "I think it made her more aware and more focused and…process…how she can cope with it and mostly like she’s not alone in this… that there are people out there that care. I think it really helped."

    Parent of child with SCD

  • "I just like how there were articles that would kind of help you."

    Youth with SCD, Age 12

  • "If I didn't have a good day and I would mark it down, it would encourage me to try harder to have the positive energy. If I didn't have a good sleep the night before, I would be putting in a [low score], then I would be encouraged to go to sleep earlier. It would just make me feel better."

    Youth with SCD, Age 13

  • "The goal chapter was very helpful because I was able to put what goals I wanted. For example, if I wanted to drink more water or I wanted to get more sleep that week then I was able to do that. That motivated me to want to achieve the goal."

    Youth with SCD

FAQs

  • Yes! While the app was designed for Apple and Android phones, it can also be used on compatible tablets.

  • iCanCope is a research project being led by The Hospital for Sick Children and University Health Network in Toronto, Canada. We are grateful for project funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Institutes of Health to support the sickle cell version of iCanCope.