One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study
Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for disability globally. Digital interventions are a promising means of supporting people to self-manage LBP, but implementation of digital interventions has been suboptimal. An artificial intelligence-driven app, selfBACK, wa...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-022-00452-2 |
| _version_ | 1797996088672649216 |
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| author | Malene J. Svendsen Barbara I. Nicholl Frances S. Mair Karen Wood Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen Mette J. Stochkendahl |
| author_facet | Malene J. Svendsen Barbara I. Nicholl Frances S. Mair Karen Wood Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen Mette J. Stochkendahl |
| author_sort | Malene J. Svendsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for disability globally. Digital interventions are a promising means of supporting people to self-manage LBP, but implementation of digital interventions has been suboptimal. An artificial intelligence-driven app, selfBACK, was developed to support self-management of LBP as an adjunct to usual care. To better understand the process of implementation from a participant perspective, we qualitatively explored factors influencing embedding, integrating, and sustaining engagement with the selfBACK app, and the self-perceived effects, acceptability, and satisfaction with the selfBACK app. Methods Using a qualitative interview study and an analytic framework approach underpinned by Normalization Process Theory (NPT), we investigated the experiences of patients who participated in the selfBACK randomized controlled trial (RCT). Interviews focused on the motivation to participate in the RCT, experiences of using the selfBACK app, and views about future intended use and potential of using digital health interventions for self-management of LBP. Participants were purposively sampled to represent diversity in age, sex, and implementation reflected by a proxy measure of number of app-generated self-management plans during the first three months of RCT participation. Results Twenty-six participants aged 21–78, eleven females and fifteen men, with two to fourteen self-management plans, were interviewed between August 2019 and April 2020. A broad range of factors influencing implementation of selfBACK within all constructs of NPT were identified. Key facilitating factors were preferences and beliefs favoring self-management, a friendly, motivational, and reassuring supporter, tailoring and personalization, convenience and ease of use, trustworthiness, perceiving benefits, and tracking achievements. Key impeding factors were preferences and beliefs not favoring self-management, functionality issues, suboptimal tailoring and personalization, insufficient time or conflicting life circumstances, not perceiving benefits, and insufficient involvement of health care practitioners. Self-perceived effects on pain and health, behavior/attitude, and gaining useful knowledge varied by participant. Conclusions The high prevalence of LBP globally coupled with the advantages of providing help through an app offers opportunities to help countless people. A range of factors should be considered to facilitate implementation of self-management of LBP or similar pain conditions using digital health tools. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:11:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c4b2d07fa304f96982de50ee8503459 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-709X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:11:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chiropractic & Manual Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c4b2d07fa304f96982de50ee85034592022-12-22T04:30:04ZengBMCChiropractic & Manual Therapies2045-709X2022-10-0130111210.1186/s12998-022-00452-2One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview studyMalene J. Svendsen0Barbara I. Nicholl1Frances S. Mair2Karen Wood3Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen4Mette J. Stochkendahl5Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkGeneral Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of GlasgowGeneral Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of GlasgowGeneral Practice and Primary Care, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of GlasgowThe National Research Centre for the Working EnvironmentDepartment of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern DenmarkAbstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for disability globally. Digital interventions are a promising means of supporting people to self-manage LBP, but implementation of digital interventions has been suboptimal. An artificial intelligence-driven app, selfBACK, was developed to support self-management of LBP as an adjunct to usual care. To better understand the process of implementation from a participant perspective, we qualitatively explored factors influencing embedding, integrating, and sustaining engagement with the selfBACK app, and the self-perceived effects, acceptability, and satisfaction with the selfBACK app. Methods Using a qualitative interview study and an analytic framework approach underpinned by Normalization Process Theory (NPT), we investigated the experiences of patients who participated in the selfBACK randomized controlled trial (RCT). Interviews focused on the motivation to participate in the RCT, experiences of using the selfBACK app, and views about future intended use and potential of using digital health interventions for self-management of LBP. Participants were purposively sampled to represent diversity in age, sex, and implementation reflected by a proxy measure of number of app-generated self-management plans during the first three months of RCT participation. Results Twenty-six participants aged 21–78, eleven females and fifteen men, with two to fourteen self-management plans, were interviewed between August 2019 and April 2020. A broad range of factors influencing implementation of selfBACK within all constructs of NPT were identified. Key facilitating factors were preferences and beliefs favoring self-management, a friendly, motivational, and reassuring supporter, tailoring and personalization, convenience and ease of use, trustworthiness, perceiving benefits, and tracking achievements. Key impeding factors were preferences and beliefs not favoring self-management, functionality issues, suboptimal tailoring and personalization, insufficient time or conflicting life circumstances, not perceiving benefits, and insufficient involvement of health care practitioners. Self-perceived effects on pain and health, behavior/attitude, and gaining useful knowledge varied by participant. Conclusions The high prevalence of LBP globally coupled with the advantages of providing help through an app offers opportunities to help countless people. A range of factors should be considered to facilitate implementation of self-management of LBP or similar pain conditions using digital health tools.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-022-00452-2Low back painSelf-managementSmartphone appImplementationEngagementDigital health |
| spellingShingle | Malene J. Svendsen Barbara I. Nicholl Frances S. Mair Karen Wood Charlotte D. N. Rasmussen Mette J. Stochkendahl One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study Chiropractic & Manual Therapies Low back pain Self-management Smartphone app Implementation Engagement Digital health |
| title | One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study |
| title_full | One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study |
| title_fullStr | One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study |
| title_full_unstemmed | One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study |
| title_short | One size does not fit all: Participants’ experiences of the selfBACK app to support self-management of low back pain—a qualitative interview study |
| title_sort | one size does not fit all participants experiences of the selfback app to support self management of low back pain a qualitative interview study |
| topic | Low back pain Self-management Smartphone app Implementation Engagement Digital health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12998-022-00452-2 |
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