SynthesisJMIR mHealth and uHealth2019
Evaluation of Self-Management Support Functions in Apps for People With Persistent Pain: Systematic Review.
Synthesis in JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 73 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
An Evidence-based Digital Support for One Year to Facilitate a Sustainable Return to Work for Persons With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Their Employers: Study Protocol for a Registry-based Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial.
Evaluation of a Mind-Body Application in Combination With a Graded Movement Program for the Treatment of Chronic Pain
Who cites it
73 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 131 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evaluation of temporomandibular disorder self-management apps in Australia: a systematic review to inform clinical use.International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care · 2025Pooled it
- Smartphone Apps for Pulmonary Hypertension: Systematic Search and Content Evaluation.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Pooled it
- Impact of 25 Years of Mobile Health Tools for Pain Management in Patients With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Systematic Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2024Pooled it
- Intervention strategies to improve adherence to treatment for selected chronic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.Journal of the International AIDS Society · 2024Pooled it
- Evaluation of Patient-Facing Mobile Apps to Support Physiotherapy Care: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2024Pooled it
- Low back pain self-management mobile applications: a systematic review on digital platforms.Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da U S P · 2024Pooled it
- mHealth Intervention for Improving Pain, Quality of Life, and Functional Disability in Patients With Chronic Pain: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2023Pooled it
- Smartphone Apps for Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: Systematic Review and Evaluation of Content.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Pooled it
- Measuring the Quality of Clinical Skills Mobile Apps for Student Learning: Systematic Search, Analysis, and Comparison of Two Measurement Scales.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2021Pooled it
- Digital manikins to self-report pain on a smartphone: A systematic review of mobile apps.European journal of pain (London, England) · 2021Pooled it
- The Quality of Mobile Apps Used for the Identification of Pressure Ulcers in Adults: Systematic Survey and Review of Apps in App Stores.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- Methodological Quality of Manuscripts Reporting on the Usability of Mobile Applications for Pain Assessment and Management: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Pooled it
- Benefits of Mobile Apps for Cancer Pain Management: Systematic Review.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2020Pooled it
- Patient-targeted smartphone applications for pain management: A review of brazilian app markets.Brazilian journal of physical therapyPooled it
- Delivery Model Matters for Digital Interventions in Pain Self-Management: Mixed Methods Study.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Trial
- An App-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program Tailored for College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2025Trial
- Short-Term Findings From Testing EPIO, a Digital Self-Management Program for People Living With Chronic Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Trial
- App-Based Relaxation Exercises for Patients With Chronic Neck Pain: Pragmatic Randomized Trial.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2022Trial
- Chronic pain and mobile health: Are the apps that occupational therapists recommend of high quality?Australian occupational therapy journal · 2026Article
- Co-Designing a Consumer-Centred Educational Resource to Assist Australian Farmers with the Management of Persistent Pain.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
13 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSmartphone apps are a potential mechanism for development of self-management skills in people with persistent pain. However, the inclusion of best-practice content items in available pain management apps fostering core self-management skills for self-management support is not known.
objectiveThe aim of the study was to evaluate the contents of smartphone apps providing information on pain management strategies for people with persistent pain facilitating self-management support and to appraise the app quality.
methodsA systematic search was performed in the New Zealand App Store and Google Play Store. Apps were included if they were designed for people with persistent pain, provided information on pain self-management strategies, and were available in English. App contents were evaluated using an a priori 14-item self-management support (SMS-14) checklist. App quality was assessed using the 23-item Mobile Apps Rating Scale.
resultsOf the 939 apps screened, 19 apps met the inclusion criteria. Meditation and guided relaxation were the most frequently included self-management strategies. Overall, the included apps met a median of 4 (range 1-8) of the SMS-14 checklist. A total of 3 apps (Curable, PainScale-Pain Diary and Coach, and SuperBetter) met the largest number of items (8 out of 14) to foster self-management of pain. Self-monitoring of symptoms (n=11) and self-tailoring of strategies (n=9) were frequently featured functions, whereas a few apps had features facilitating social support and enabling communicating with clinicians. No apps provided information tailored to the cultural needs of the user. The app quality mean scores using Mobile Apps Rating Scale ranged from 2.7 to 4.5 (out of 5.0). Although use of 2 apps (Headspace and SuperBetter) has been shown to improve health outcomes, none of the included apps have been evaluated in people with persistent pain.
conclusionsOf the 3 apps (Curable, PainScale-Pain Diary and Coach, and SuperBetter) that met the largest number of items to support skills in self-management of pain, 2 apps (PainScale-Pain Diary and Coach and SuperBetter) were free, suggesting the potential for using apps as a scalable, wide-reaching intervention to complement face-to-face care. However, none provided culturally tailored information. Although 2 apps (Headspace and SuperBetter) were validated to show improved health outcomes, none were tested in people with persistent pain. Both users and clinicians should be aware of such limitations and make informed choices in using or recommending apps as a self-management tool. For better integration of apps in clinical practice, concerted efforts are required among app developers, clinicians, and people with persistent pain in developing apps and evaluating for clinical efficacy.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.