Development of the Low Back Pain Self-Management App Review Tool (LBP-SMART) for consumers to assess the quality, behaviour change and self-management potential of LBP smartphone apps

Low back pain (LBP) poses global health management and economic challenges. Self-management of LBP is critical, and smartphone apps have great potential to facilitate LBP self-management. This study aimed to co-design a LBP Self-Management App Review Tool (LBP-SMART) for consumers to assess the quality, behaviour change and self-management potential of LBP self-management apps for LBP rehabilitation.

Two-phase prospective cross-sectional design. Consumers and health professionals participated in four online co-design workshops, underpinned by the Co-KT framework, to develop a consumer-level assessment tool for LBP self-management smartphone apps. User evaluation of the tool (LBP-SMART) was then undertaken.

Four stakeholders (consumers n = 2, health professionals n = 2) with the guidance of researchers (n = 3) participated in the workshops. The LBP-SMART was developed, consisting of seven categories: 1)Safety; 2)Download process; 3)Look, function and feel; 4)Customisation; 5)Goals and self-monitoring; 6)Enabling sharing and 7)Additional features. Five additional participants undertook user evaluation. All reported that the tool was easy to use/understand, and the order/sequencing was appropriate. The LBP-SMART has content validity based on evidence, stakeholder and expert views.

The LBP-SMART guides consumers and health professionals on appropriate app choice with quality, and self-management and behaviour change potential features that may improve LBP rehabilitation outcomes.