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 <i>n</i> = 2, health professionals <i>n</i> = 2) with the guidance of researchers (<i>n</i> = 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. Low back pain (LBP) poses global health management, rehabilitation and economic challenges.Self-management of LBP is critical, and smartphone apps have great potential to facilitate LBP rehabilitation via self-management.The LBP-SMART guides consumers to choose apps with appropriate quality, and self-management and behaviour change potential features that may improve their LBP rehabilitation outcomes.The tool also may provide a guide for health professionals working with people with LBP to offer an alternative rehabilitation option. Low back pain (LBP) poses global health management, rehabilitation and economic challenges. Self-management of LBP is critical, and smartphone apps have great potential to facilitate LBP rehabilitation via self-management. The LBP-SMART guides consumers to choose apps with appropriate quality, and self-management and behaviour change potential features that may improve their LBP rehabilitation outcomes. The tool also may provide a guide for health professionals working with people with LBP to offer an alternative rehabilitation option.