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. 2025 Jun;45(1):57-70.
doi: 10.1142/S1013702525500052. Epub 2024 Oct 28.

The feasibility of M-health for people with chronic low back pain in Shanghai, China: A qualitative study

Waner Xie  1 , Guojiong Hu  1   2 , Yijin Wang  2 , Xiaoquan Luo  2 , Linrong Liao  3 , Allan C L Fu  4 , Jianhua Lin  2   5
Affiliations

The feasibility of M-health for people with chronic low back pain in Shanghai, China: A qualitative study

Waner Xie et al. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Mobile health (M-health) has emerged as a promising solution for enhancing the management of low back pain. However, the feasibility of M-health among the Chinese population and its influencing factors remain unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the acceptance of M-health among people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and physiotherapists in Shanghai, China, and to explore the influencing factors of its utility in the treatment of CLBP.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with 25 participants with CLBP and 20 physiotherapists, utilising a combination of group discussion and individual interview. Thematic analysis, supported by NVivo software, was employed to identify and examine the themes regarding the facilitators and barriers to the utility of M-health in Shanghai, China.

Results: The focus group discussions revealed a broad spectrum of factors that drive or hinder participants' acceptance of M-health. Three main themes related to the feasibility of M-health were identified from the interviews: (1) Reasons for embracing M-health; (2) Reasons for resisting M-health; (3) Recommendations to enhance the feasibility of M-health. In general, participants exhibited enthusiasm towards the prospect of offering M-health as a viable treatment.

Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the feasibility of M-health depends on many factors in Shanghai, China. Efforts to promote the establishment of M-health policy or laws, rational integration of M-health and face-to-face model and improvement of the functions of M-health applications may increase its feasibility in Shanghai, China.

Keywords: Low back pain; M-health; feasibility; physiotherapy; rehabilitation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) have no conflicts of interest relevant to this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
The willingness of participants to use M-health approach in CLBP group and physiotherapist group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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