TEXT4myBACK - The Development Process of a Self-Management Intervention Delivered Via Text Message for Low Back Pain

Carolina G Fritsch; Paulo H Ferreira; Joanna L Prior; Giovana Vesentini; Patricia Schlotfeldt; Jillian Eyles; Sarah Robbins; Shirley Yu; Kathryn Mills; Deborah A Taylor; Tara E Lambert; Ornella Clavisi; Lisa Bywaters; Clara K Chow; Julie Redfern; Andrew J McLachlan; Manuela L Ferreira

doi:10.1016/j.arrct.2021.100128

TEXT4myBACK - The Development Process of a Self-Management Intervention Delivered Via Text Message for Low Back Pain

Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2021 Apr 27;3(2):100128. doi: 10.1016/j.arrct.2021.100128. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Carolina G Fritsch¹, Paulo H Ferreira², Joanna L Prior¹, Giovana Vesentini³, Patricia Schlotfeldt⁴, Jillian Eyles¹, Sarah Robbins¹, Shirley Yu¹, Kathryn Mills⁵, Deborah A Taylor⁴, Tara E Lambert⁴, Ornella Clavisi⁶, Lisa Bywaters⁶, Clara K Chow^{7

8}, Julie Redfern⁷, Andrew J McLachlan⁹, Manuela L Ferreira¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Institute of Bone and Joint Research, The Kolling Institute, Sydney, Australia.
² Musculoskeletal Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
³ Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Musculoskeletal Australia, Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ Westmead Applied Research Centre and Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Westmead Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
⁹ School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Objective: To develop a bank of text messages for a lifestyle-based self-management intervention for people with low back pain (LBP).

Design: Iterative development process.

Setting: Community and primary care.

Participants: Fifteen researchers, clinicians, and consumer representatives participated in the concept and initial content development phase. Twelve experts (researchers and clinicians) and 12 consumers participated in the experts and consumers review phase. Full study sample of participants was N=39.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measures: We first conducted two 2-hour workshops to identify important domains for people with LBP, sources of content, appropriate volume, and timing of the messages. The messages were then drafted by a team of writers. Second, we invited expert researchers and clinicians to review and score the messages using a 5-item psychometric scale according to (1) the appropriateness of the content and (2) the likelihood of clinical effectiveness and to provide written feedback. Messages scoring ≤8 out of 10 points would be modified accordingly. Consumers were invited to review the messages and score them using a 5-item psychometric scale according to the utility of the content, the understanding of the content, and language acceptability and to provide feedback. Messages scoring ≤12 out of 15 points would be improved.

Results: Exercise, education, mood, sleep, use of care, and medication domains were identified and 82 domain-specific evidence-based messages were written. Messages received a mean score of 8.3 out of 10 points by experts. Twenty-nine messages were modified accordingly. The mean score of the messages based on consumers feedback was of 12.5 out of 15 points. Thirty-six messages were improved.

Conclusions: We developed a bank of text messages for an evidence-based self-management intervention using a theory-based, iterative, codesign process with researchers, consumers, and clinicians. This article provides scientific support for future development of text message interventions within the pain field.

Keywords: Low back pain; Rehabilitation; Telemedicine; Text messaging.