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Smartphone app in self-management of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Background

Mobile health (mHealth) is emerging as the most convenient way to deliver rehabilitation services remotely, and collect outcomes in real time, thus contributing to disease management by transferring care from hospital to home. It facilitates accessibility to healthcare, enhances patients’ understanding of their condition, and their willingness to engage in self-management, giving way to high-quality care to the satisfaction of both patients and healthcare professionals.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of using a smartphone app (called Snapcare) on pain and function in patients suffering from chronic low back pain.

Methods

Ninety-three patients with chronic low back pain were recruited and randomly allocated to either the Conventional group (n = 48) receiving a written prescription from the Physician, containing a list of prescribed medicines and dosages, and stating the recommended level of physical activity (including home exercises) or the App group (n = 45) receiving Snapcare, in addition to the written prescription. Pain and disability were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.

Results

Both the groups showed significant improvement in pain and disability (p < 0.05). The App group showed a significantly greater decline in disability (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Health applications are promising tools for improving outcomes in patients suffering from various chronic conditions. Snapcare facilitated increase in physical activity and brought about clinically meaningful improvements in pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Ranjeet Randhawa (CEO, Snapcare Technologies) for providing the app free of cost for patient use. The authors would also like to acknowledge the work of our language editor, Ms. Shivani Verma and finally, the participants for their time and cooperation.

Funding

The study was supported by Snapcare Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, 110070, India

    H. S. Chhabra & Sunil Sharma

  2. Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi, 110025, India

    Shalini Verma

  3. Snapcare Technologies Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 110070, India

    Shalini Verma

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  1. H. S. Chhabra
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  2. Sunil Sharma
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  3. Shalini Verma
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shalini Verma.

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Conflict of interest

The corresponding author is a research consultant for Snapcare Technologies Pvt. Ltd. The authors derived no financial benefit from sales or from publication of this research. The data from the app were obtained from two independent observers not related to Snapcare Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Ethical standards

The study was approved by the Institutional Ethical Committee, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre and an informed consent obtained from all participants. (Date: 28 July 2016; IEC reference No: ISIC/RP/2015/047).

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Chhabra, H.S., Sharma, S. & Verma, S. Smartphone app in self-management of chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Spine J 27, 2862–2874 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-018-5788-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-018-5788-5

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