Usability and Acceptability of an App (SELFBACK) to Support Self-Management of Low Back Pain: Mixed Methods Study.
Anne Lovise Nordstoga, Kerstin Bach, Sadiq Sani and 4 others
PMID 32902393WHAT IT FOUND
People with low back pain found the app's exercise and activity plans useful, but technical glitches, mixed views on notifications, and limited tailoring meant it needed refinement.
This was a usability study, not proof it reduces pain.
Key findings
01The Stage 2 app scored a mean of 70.5 points on a 0 to 100 usability scale, and 5 of 10 participants found the functions well integrated.
02In Stage 2, 8 of 10 participants rated the exercise and physical activity components useful or very useful, 6 of 10 rated the education component useful or very useful, and 5 of 10 rated motivational notifications useful.
03Most participants reported technical difficulties with login, syncing, freezing or unexpected shutdown, and 2 stopped using the app.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had only 16 participants in Stage 1 and 11 in Stage 2, so it cannot show how a wider group of people with low back pain would use the app. It tested usability and acceptability, not whether the app reduced pain or improved function. The app was only available in English, and participants needed to read and understand English. Stage 1 used an Android prototype, and some participants needed loaned phones. In Stage 2, only the 10 interview volunteers completed the final usability and design questionnaires, so the questionnaire results came from a subgroup. Participants had mild to moderate chronic low back pain, so findings may not apply to people with more severe pain. Technical problems affected use, and 2 participants stopped using the app.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the usability scores or interview themes as evidence that the app works for low back pain. The study tested only usability and acceptability in small samples, and the authors state it was preparation for a pilot study and randomized trial.