@Article{info:doi/10.2196/26555,
author="Svendsen, Malene Jagd
and Sandal, Louise Fleng
and Kj{\ae}r, Per
and Nicholl, Barbara I
and Cooper, Kay
and Mair, Frances
and Hartvigsen, Jan
and Stochkendahl, Mette Jensen
and S{\o}gaard, Karen
and Mork, Paul Jarle
and Rasmussen, Charlotte",
title="Using Intervention Mapping to Develop a Decision Support System--Based Smartphone App (selfBACK) to Support Self-management of Nonspecific Low Back Pain: Development and Usability Study",
journal="J Med Internet Res",
year="2022",
month="Jan",
day="24",
volume="24",
number="1",
pages="e26555",
keywords="intervention mapping; behavior change; low back pain; self-management; mHealth; app-based intervention; decision support system; digital health intervention; mobile phone",
abstract="Background: International guidelines consistently endorse the promotion of self-management for people with low back pain (LBP); however, implementation of these guidelines remains a challenge. Digital health interventions, such as those that can be provided by smartphone apps, have been proposed as a promising mode of supporting self-management in people with chronic conditions, including LBP. However, the evidence base for digital health interventions to support self-management of LBP is weak, and detailed descriptions and documentation of the interventions are lacking. Structured intervention mapping (IM) constitutes a 6-step process that can be used to guide the development of complex interventions. Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the IM process for designing and creating an app-based intervention designed to support self-management of nonspecific LBP to reduce pain-related disability. Methods: The first 5 steps of the IM process were systematically applied. The core processes included literature reviews, brainstorming and group discussions, and the inclusion of stakeholders and representatives from the target population. Over a period of >2 years, the intervention content and the technical features of delivery were created, tested, and revised through user tests, feasibility studies, and a pilot study. Results: A behavioral outcome was identified as a proxy for reaching the overall program goal, that is, increased use of evidence-based self-management strategies. Physical exercises, education, and physical activity were the main components of the self-management intervention and were designed and produced to be delivered via a smartphone app. All intervention content was theoretically underpinned by the behavior change theory and the normalization process theory. Conclusions: We describe a detailed example of the application of the IM approach for the development of a theory-driven, complex, and digital intervention designed to support self-management of LBP. This description provides transparency in the developmental process of the intervention and can be a possible blueprint for designing and creating future digital health interventions for self-management. ",
issn="1438-8871",
doi="10.2196/26555",
url="https://www.jmir.org/2022/1/e26555",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/26555",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/35072645"
}