Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances
Objective: Chronic low back pain places a significant burden on healthcare services and sufferers. Clinical guidelines state that it is a condition that requires self-management. This realist synthesis explores how a mobile app could help people to self-manage chronic low back pain. Method: Six data...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | PEC Innovation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628223000559 |
| _version_ | 1797383594710138880 |
|---|---|
| author | Rebecca Hunter Michelle Beattie Chris O'Malley Trish Gorely |
| author_facet | Rebecca Hunter Michelle Beattie Chris O'Malley Trish Gorely |
| author_sort | Rebecca Hunter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Chronic low back pain places a significant burden on healthcare services and sufferers. Clinical guidelines state that it is a condition that requires self-management. This realist synthesis explores how a mobile app could help people to self-manage chronic low back pain. Method: Six databases and several non-academic sources were searched. In addition, nineteen realist interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Sources were selected and appraised for relevancy, richness, and rigour. Data was coded with analytical memos making retroductive inferences. Causal explanations were presented in context-mechanism-outcome configurations to form three programme theories. Results: Data from 57 sources was synthesised to create 16 context-mechanism-outcome configurations and presented as three refined programme theories. The findings suggest people need to feel believed before they will engage with a self-management app. For those who feel abandoned by the healthcare service, a self-management app for chronic low back pain can be a valuable source of ongoing support and reduce feelings of social isolation. Conclusion: A self-management app, if introduced appropriately and as adjunct to care, can be an empowering tool to self-manage chronic low back pain. Innovation: Using input from key stakeholders enhances our understanding of the hidden generative mechanisms underpinning a programme's success or failure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:23:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f9b91965edc4d168eb84fcb8759efae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2772-6282 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:23:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PEC Innovation |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f9b91965edc4d168eb84fcb8759efae2023-12-21T07:38:43ZengElsevierPEC Innovation2772-62822023-12-013100175Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstancesRebecca Hunter0Michelle Beattie1Chris O'Malley2Trish Gorely3Department Nursing and Midwifery, University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United KingdomDepartment Nursing and Midwifery, University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United KingdomSpecialist Librarian (Learning and Information Services), University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United KingdomDepartment Nursing and Midwifery, University of Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom; Corresponding author.Objective: Chronic low back pain places a significant burden on healthcare services and sufferers. Clinical guidelines state that it is a condition that requires self-management. This realist synthesis explores how a mobile app could help people to self-manage chronic low back pain. Method: Six databases and several non-academic sources were searched. In addition, nineteen realist interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Sources were selected and appraised for relevancy, richness, and rigour. Data was coded with analytical memos making retroductive inferences. Causal explanations were presented in context-mechanism-outcome configurations to form three programme theories. Results: Data from 57 sources was synthesised to create 16 context-mechanism-outcome configurations and presented as three refined programme theories. The findings suggest people need to feel believed before they will engage with a self-management app. For those who feel abandoned by the healthcare service, a self-management app for chronic low back pain can be a valuable source of ongoing support and reduce feelings of social isolation. Conclusion: A self-management app, if introduced appropriately and as adjunct to care, can be an empowering tool to self-manage chronic low back pain. Innovation: Using input from key stakeholders enhances our understanding of the hidden generative mechanisms underpinning a programme's success or failure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628223000559Realist synthesisBack painmHealthMobile appsHealth innovation |
| spellingShingle | Rebecca Hunter Michelle Beattie Chris O'Malley Trish Gorely Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances PEC Innovation Realist synthesis Back pain mHealth Mobile apps Health innovation |
| title | Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances |
| title_full | Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances |
| title_fullStr | Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances |
| title_short | Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain: A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances |
| title_sort | mobile apps to self manage chronic low back pain a realist synthesis exploring what works for whom and in what circumstances |
| topic | Realist synthesis Back pain mHealth Mobile apps Health innovation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628223000559 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rebeccahunter mobileappstoselfmanagechroniclowbackpainarealistsynthesisexploringwhatworksforwhomandinwhatcircumstances AT michellebeattie mobileappstoselfmanagechroniclowbackpainarealistsynthesisexploringwhatworksforwhomandinwhatcircumstances AT chrisomalley mobileappstoselfmanagechroniclowbackpainarealistsynthesisexploringwhatworksforwhomandinwhatcircumstances AT trishgorely mobileappstoselfmanagechroniclowbackpainarealistsynthesisexploringwhatworksforwhomandinwhatcircumstances |