Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36098993›Full record

ArticleJMIR human factors2022

Patient Perspectives on Using a Smartphone App to Support Home-Based Exercise During Physical Therapy Treatment: Qualitative Study.

Remco Arensman, Corelien Kloek, Martijn Pisters, Tjarco Koppenaal, Raymond Ostelo, Cindy Veenhof

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in JMIR human factors, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
5.3field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Remco ArensmanCenter for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, De Meern, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-963X
Corelien KloekCenter for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, De Meern, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7426-7141
Martijn PistersCenter for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, De Meern, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2875-1709
Tjarco KoppenaalCenter for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, De Meern, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5319-4588
Raymond OsteloDepartment of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7679-7210
Cindy VeenhofCenter for Physical Therapy Research and Innovation in Primary Care, Julius Health Care Centers, De Meern, Netherlands.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0970-2896
Utrecht University · NLUniversity of Applied Sciences Utrecht · NLAmsterdam University Medical Centers · NL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHome-based exercise is an important part of physical therapy treatment for patients with low back pain. However, treatment effectiveness depends heavily on patient adherence to home-based exercise recommendations. Smartphone apps designed to support home-based exercise have the potential to support adherence to exercise recommendations and possibly improve treatment effects. A better understanding of patient perspectives regarding the use of smartphone apps to support home-based exercise during physical therapy treatment can assist physical therapists with optimal use and implementation of these apps in clinical practice.

objectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate patient perspectives on the acceptability, satisfaction, and performance of a smartphone app to support home-based exercise following recommendations from a physical therapist.

methodsUsing an interpretivist phenomenology approach, 9 patients (4 males and 5 females; aged 20-71 years) with nonspecific low back pain recruited from 2 primary care physical therapy practices were interviewed within 2 weeks after treatment ended. An interview guide was used for the interviews to ensure that different aspects of the patients' perspectives were discussed. The Physitrack smartphone app was used to support home-based exercise as part of treatment for all patients. Data were analyzed using the "Framework Method" to assist with interpretation of the data.

resultsData analysis revealed 11 categories distributed among the 3 themes "acceptability," "satisfaction," and "performance." Patients were willing to accept the app as part of treatment when it was easy to use, when it benefited the patient, and when the physical therapist instructed the patient in its use. Satisfaction with the app was determined by users' perceived support from the app when exercising at home and the perceived increase in adherence. The video and text instructions, reminder functions, and self-monitor functions were considered the most important aspects for performance during treatment. The patients did not view the Physitrack app as a replacement for the physical therapist and relied on their therapist for instructions and support when needed.

conclusionsPatients who use an app to support home-based exercise as part of treatment are accepting of the app when it is easy to use, when it benefits the patient, and when the therapist instructs the patient in its use. Physical therapists using an app to support home-based exercise can use the findings from this study to effectively support their patients when exercising at home during treatment.

Indexed as

adherencehome-based exerciselow back painmHealthmobile healthpatient perspectivesphysical therapy

Identifiers

PMID36098993
PMCPMC9516363
OpenAlexW4285329457

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.