TY - JOUR
T1 - Mobile apps to self-manage chronic low back pain
T2 - A realist synthesis exploring what works, for whom and in what circumstances
AU - Hunter, Rebecca
AU - Beattie, Michelle
AU - O'Malley, Chris
AU - Gorely, Trish
N1 - Funding Information:
R Hunter's work was supported by the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal Studentship Award [2018].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023
PY - 2023/6/22
Y1 - 2023/6/22
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Back pain
KW - Health innovation
KW - mHealth
KW - Mobile apps
KW - Realist synthesis
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U2 - 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100175
DO - 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100175
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85163198086
VL - 3
JO - PEC Innovation
JF - PEC Innovation
M1 - 100175
ER -